VON Award for Excellence in Quality Improvement
VON recognizes outstanding dedication to data-driven quality improvement.
About the VON Award for Excellence in Quality Improvement
Vermont Oxford Network began collecting data and distributing reports for participating units’ local quality improvement efforts in 1988. Since that time, the network has grown to a worldwide improvement community and teams have completed countless cycles of quality improvement in newborn care.
We have also honed a Sequence to Achieve Change, which guides teams through using data, implementing sound quality improvement methods, and partnering across disciplines and with parents to create a culture of continuous improvement and achieve lasting change for infants and families.
The annual VON Award for Excellence in Quality Improvement recognizes VON member teams who demonstrate dedication to VON core values of quality improvement: measurement, evidence, families, equity, and collaboration.
Why Apply for the VON Award for Excellence in Quality Improvement?
- Recruit and retain staff dedicated to providing the best possible care for infants and families!
- Attract more patients seeking high quality care!
- Enhance your hospital’s reputation!
- Celebrate your team’s successes!
Eligibility
The VON Award for Excellence in Quality Improvement is awarded to VON members in good standing who have participated in a VON database for at least one year and are participating in a current VON quality improvement collaborative (NICQ/iNICQ).
Criteria
The VON Award for Excellence in Quality Improvement is awarded to members who meet the following criteria:
- VON Membership
- At least one year of database participation
- Enrollment in the current NICQ or iNICQ collaborative
- Organizational Support
- Previous meeting with senior leadership to review QI project
- Plan for future review of QI project with senior leadership
- Support of QI project from senior leaders
- QI Team
- Improvement team of 4 or more people representing a minimum of 3 disciplines
- Identified VON QI project leader (the VON Champion)
- Regular team meetings (person, virtually, or hybrid)
- At least 4 members of the team completed the VON QI Foundations course
- QI Performance
- Defined at least one SMART Aim for VON QI project (Example 1, Example 2)
- Use a formal QI method such as the Model for Improvement, Lean or 6 Sigma (Example 1, Example 2)
- Measured performance over time using annotated run or SPC charts (Example 1, Example 2)
- Submitted a poster to VON documenting our VON QI work
- Families as Partners
- The parent of an infant cared for in a NICU (who is not a member of the care team) is a working member of the multidisciplinary VON QI team and participated in the project reported in the team QI poster.
Application Fee
The 2025 VON Award for Excellence in Quality Improvement nonrefundable application fee of $2,500 is due at time of submission.
Important Dates
To be considered for the 2025 VON Award for Excellence in Quality Improvement, please meet these deadlines:
- Poster Submission: September 2-24, 2025
- Application Submission: September 2 – November 21, 2025
Award recipients are announced in December. See 2024 recipients.
Benefits
To honor the data-driven, family-centered accomplishments in quality improvement for infants and families, award recipients will receive:
- Recognition on VON website
- Announcements through VON emails and press releases
- Publicity Packet, including:
- Certificate to display in your unit
- Award description for website
- Web graphic to display on member’s site
- Press release
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to apply for the VON Award for Excellence in Quality Improvement?
Centers participating in VON’s All Care is Brain Care quality improvement collaborative and a VON database are eligible to apply for the award.
How many centers can receive the VON Award for Excellence in Quality Improvement?
Any center that applies for the award and meets all the criteria will receive the award. There is not a limited number of recipients per year.
When are award applications due?
Applications for the 2025 award will be accepted September 2- November 21, 2025.
What information is included in the application?
The application consists of a checklist to report on fulfilling each criteria, an improvement poster submitted through the VON collaborative, and a non-refundable fee.
Can the submitted project be a continuation of the work our unit did in previous years?
Yes, you may submit an improvement poster on any work your team has done as part of the All Care is Brain Care collaborative.
Why is there an application fee for the award?
The application fee of $2,500 helps offset the cost of reviewing posters and applications, promoting award recipients, and other administrative fees.
How are centers recognized?
Award recipients are recognized with a press release, social media, publicity on VON webinars, announcements to the VON mailing list, and on the VON website. Additionally, centers are provided an award icon they can post digitally, social media templates, and a certificate to display in their unit.
How often is the award issued?
The VON Award for Excellence in Quality Improvement recognizes centers annually. Recipients are announced in December.
What centers have received the award?
See the 2024 award recipients.
Follow Us
