Healthcare Innovations Grant Request for Applications

The BCM Department of Medicine Vice Chair Group for Quality Improvement and Innovations is offering a request for applications for the FY22 Healthcare Innovations Grant. The Healthcare Innovations Grant seeks to further quality improvement and innovation work among Department of Medicine faculty and fellows. The grant will support Department of Medicine faculty affiliated with any of Baylor College of Medicine’s clinical pavilions, though preference will be given to proposals aligned with identified clinical priorities (see below). Projects must involve innovative development of novel interventions, quality improvement algorithms or software, redesign of an aspect of care delivery or rigorous evaluation of existing redesign projects. Projects are expected to identify outcomes of interest to payers (e.g., insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.) and report results with payers in mind. Demonstration of collaborations with payers as part of the proposal will be viewed positively. Inter-professional and multidisciplinary collaborations are encouraged. Examples of high-priority topic areas at the clinical pavilions include:

• Improving care of patients with COVID-19, e.g. prevention, diagnosis, treatment, vaccination
• Improvement of telehealth outcomes for outpatient settings 
• Improving blood pressure management 
• Addressing retinal eye screening among patients with diabetes 
• Screening for fall risk 
• Screening for depression and follow-up plan

• Improving care of patients with COVID-19, e.g. prevention, diagnosis, treatment, vaccination
• Reducing hospital-acquired infections, e.g. CLABSI/CAUTI/ C difficile
• Reducing seven-day readmissions 
• Reducing sepsis-related mortality 
• Improving physician and APP engagement 
• Improving hospital-wide hand hygiene rates
• Improving patient experience
• Improving blood product utilization 
• Improving HTN and diabetes management
• Improving the culture of safety

• Improving care of patients with COVID-19, e.g. prevention, diagnosis, treatment, vaccination
• Improvement of telehealth outcomes for inpatient and outpatient settings
• Reducing catheter-associated hospital-acquired infections, e.g. CLABSI/CAUTI 
• Reducing rates of C-difficile infection
• Improving blood pressure management 
• Improving hospital-wide hand hygiene rates 
• Improving the process for ensuring outpatient follow-up appointments at the time of discharge 
• Improving timing for patient flow for admitted and discharged patients
• Developing a system of intensive outpatient care following hospital discharge for high-risk patients
• Cancer survivorship care plans

• Improving care of patients with COVID-19
• Improvement of telehealth/video connect outcomes for inpatient and outpatient settings
• Reducing catheter-associated hospital-acquired infections, e.g. CLABSI/CAUTI
• Reducing 30-day readmissions to the Medicine Service
• Improving the process for ensuring outpatient follow-up appointments at the time of discharge
• Improving influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates among patients
• Improving hospital-wide hand hygiene rates
• Developing a rapid-response QI intervention team to provide point-of-care teaching on quality measures for providers
• Improving timing for patient flow for admitted and discharged patients
• Developing a system to improve rapid detection of early clinical deterioration, including early sepsis
• Developing a system of intensive outpatient care following hospital discharge for high-risk patients
• Developing a multidisciplinary approach to fall reduction in admitted patients
• Improving risk-adjusted mortality rate among patients with myocardial infarction
• Designing and rapid process improving the COVID-19 vaccine distribution

Projects will be scored on:

1. Feasibility of the project
2. Direct impact on one or more clinical priorities
3. Sustainability and/or broader dissemination of the intervention as applicable
4. Size of and justification for the budget
5. Evidence of engagement with payers and/or responsiveness to outcomes of interest to payers
6. Potential for future funding

Any BCM Department of Medicine faculty member or fellow is eligible to apply. Applicants still in fellowship training must have an experienced mentor who is committed to the project.

One project will be funded. Projects may request a maximum of $20,000 of support. All funds must be used by June 30, 2022. Funds may be used for the following budget items: funding for project coordinator, data analyst or statistician effort, salary support of project director (faculty effort) and consultants or project-related supplies and equipment.

Funding of internal BCM employees is highly encouraged. To reduce delays related to hiring, projects are encouraged to use project coordinator, consultant, and data analyst/statistician effort identified by the Vice Chair Group for Quality Improvement and Innovations, or a consultant or other current BCM employees.

A complete application should include a:

• Brief project abstract (300 words)
• Three-page structured narrative abstract
• Detailed budget
• Two- to five-page bio-sketch for project director and other significant faculty contributors
• Letter of support from your section chief

Applications are due by close of business Monday, April 5, 2021. Email completed abstracts to Juni Muhota-Langham at Juni.Muhota-Langham@bcm.edu 

• Notice of Funding: Monday, June 7, 2020
• Project Dates: July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022

• Interim Report: Nov. 30, 2021
• Final Report:  May 31, 2022