EngagingPatients.org, an online community dedicated to sharing best practices in patient and family engagement, opened nominations for the 2016 John Q. Sherman Award for Excellence in Patient Engagement today.

Established in 2014, the Sherman Award is dedicated to recognizing innovative work that has resulted in better, safer care and improved outcomes by engaging patients and families in their care. The award, which is a partnership between EngagingPatients.org, the National Patient Safety Foundation’s (NPSF) Lucian Leape Institute and Standard Register Healthcare, will be conferred at the NPSF’s 18th annual Patient Safety Congress in Scottsdale, Ariz. on May 24. The winner will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Scottsdale for the congress.

“Increasing attention on engaging patients and their personal support networks signals a true shift in healthcare,” said Mark O’Leary, chair of EngagingPatients.org’s advisory board and president of Standard Register Healthcare. “Each project represents an organization’s commitment to creating deep and lasting relationships by engaging and activating patients and families across the continuum of care. We hope showcasing these outstanding projects and caregivers will inspire more patient and family-centered practices.”

Named for John Q. Sherman (1882-1939), founder of Standard Register and philanthropist, the award is given to a program focused on enhancing patient and family engagement. Programs will be judged on the degree to which patient and families are involved in project design and implementation; measurable results; sustainability; and the ability to replicate the project.

“Patient and family engagement is essential to the delivery of safe and appropriate health care,” said Tejal K. Gandhi, MD, MPH, CPPS, president and CEO of the National Patient Safety Foundation and president of the NPSF Lucian Leape Institute. “We are pleased to collaborate with EngagingPatients.org to recognize those who have put successful practices into place to partner with patients, and this award is a wonderful way to share what they have learned.”

Nominations will be accepted through March 11. Work must have occurred between January 1, 2014 and January 31, 2016. The official nomination form and full details about criteria for the John Q. Sherman Award are available at www.EngagingPatients.org/awardsubmissions.

About EngagingPatients.org

EngagingPatients.org, an online community dedicated to the transformation of healthcare through patient engagement, was launched in June 2013. The community recognizes the important role communication plays in improving the patient experience, the quality of care and ultimately creating better outcomes. Through partnerships, members strive to advance engagement between patients, advocates and providers. EngagingPatients.org is a centralized resource where the community can find real-time news and relevant content, share best practices and engage in thoughtful discussion.

About the National Patient Safety Foundation

The National Patient Safety Foundation’s vision is to create a world where patients and those who care for them are free from harm. A central voice for patient safety since 1997, NPSF partners with patients and families, the health care community, and key stakeholders to advance patient safety and health care workforce safety and disseminate strategies to prevent harm. NPSF is an independent, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The NPSF Lucian Leape Institute, established in 2007, is charged with defining strategic paths and calls to action for the field of patient safety, offering vision and context for the many efforts under way within health care, and providing the leverage necessary for system-level change. To learn more about the NPSF’s work, visit www.npsf.org.

About Standard Register Healthcare

Standard Register, Inc., a subsidiary of Taylor Corporation, helps customers advance their reputation and build their brands with integrated digital and print communications programs delivered through multiple channels. With more than a century of experience, Standard Register, Inc. also can draw on the resources and capabilities of Taylor Corporation’s many companies around the world. Standard Register Healthcare is a business unit serving more than 1,800 clients across the continuum of care, including acute, ambulatory, long-term care and managed care. A recognized leader in managing patient-centric information and communications, Standard Register Healthcare provides services and technology-enabled solutions to enhance patient engagement, the coordination of care and achieve desired outcomes. More information is available at www.standardregisterhealthcare.com .