Skip to main content
2020 QI/PI Project Funding Event Banner
* indicates a required field

Welcome to the Submission Site

Introduction

The American College of Cardiology’s (ACC’s) Accreditation Services’ helps hospitals improve care for patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), heart failure (HF), and atrial fibrillation (AF). We believe this is best accomplished by using quality and process improvement scientific methods.

In an effort to support cardiovascular quality and performance improvement, the ACC provides funding opportunities that support future cardiovascular quality initiatives (QI) or performance improvement (PI), particularly those that highlight the importance of accreditation. Funding to support these projects is made possible by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC), which was a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the care and outcomes of patients worldwide with suspected acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation through innovative cross-disciplinary processes. Its merger with the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) in 2016 provided an opportunity to leverage the accreditation strength of the SCPC into the large portfolio of services the ACCF offers. To preserve the legacy of the SCPC, an endowment was created to support future cardiovascular QI or PI, particularly those efforts that highlight the importance of accreditation.


Focus areas of desired projects or proposals include those that support cardiovascular quality improvement of cardiovascular care and patient outcomes that:

  • contribute to the evidence base for accreditation
  • develop or evaluate cardiovascular quality initiatives that strengthen the accreditation process
  • provide opportunities for education that support quality or performance improvement projects
  • improve EMS systems of care in collaboration with community hospitals providing accreditation services
  • provide public health education to improve community measures/outcomes related to early recognition of heart attack symptoms and appropriate action steps

Example projects include those that:

  • Support scholarly or creative work that further the principles of cardiovascular patient care performance improvement using ACC accreditation data
  • Convene educational symposia
  • Sponsor lectures
  • Advance cardiovascular care
  • Establish heart safe communities to promote Early Heart Attack Care
  • Fund low performing hospitals and or critical access hospitals that seek ACC accreditation.

The scope of proposed projects will be determined by the ACC's Accreditation Foundation Board and may vary from year to year. In general, proposed projects will be expected to be completed within 12 months of award notification, unless otherwise explicitly stated in the posted request for proposals.


Funding Eligibility

Individuals or groups may submit applications for up to $100,000 per proposal. Funds will be paid only to United States-based healthcare organizations.

Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, Tuesday, June 30, 2020. Incomplete proposals or those received after the deadline will not be considered.

* The Request For Proposal funds cannot be used to cover the cost of accreditation fees.

Evaluation Criteria

The Accreditation Foundation Board will serve as the selection committee and will evaluate the merits of each proposal and recommend the projects to be funded. The committee seeks proposals that are well conceived and demonstrate sound methodology:

  • Present a project design and methodology including specific aims, significance, innovation, and approach, that can answer the proposed questions.
  • Demonstrate that the project team is knowledgeable on the topic and qualified to complete a high-quality project.
  • Include matched funds or in-kind contributions to strengthen the feasibility of conducting the project and completing it within the contracted timeline.
  • Support operational improvements, patients care and safety, and efficiency in cardiovascular care.

Project Duration

Projects must be completed within twelve (12) months from the signing of the funding contract unless a specific condition exists that would warrant an exception. If an extension is required, the individual grantee must file for an extension and receive approval from the Accreditation Foundation Board. No additional funds will be provided for such an extension.


Presentation of Work

Grant awardees are required to present their work at the annual ACC Quality Summit, or another ACC-sponsored meeting as designated by the Accreditation Foundation Board, immediately following the completion of the award year. Funds can be requested in the project budget to cover the travel costs to attend the required meeting.


Conflict of Interest

The Accreditation Foundation Board members will serve as the selection committee for the proposals. As such they are not eligible to submit project proposals, but they may serve as un-compensated advisors to projects led by others. Applications that include participation of Accreditation Foundation Board members must be clearly identified. Those participants will be recused from the evaluation and selection process. Other potential conflicts of interests with other organizations or companies should be identified in the application.

Log in to the Abstract ScoreCard

Questions? Organizer: Tracey Young -