The Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care Receives 2009 Picker Organizational Award for Excellence® in the Advancement of Patient-Centered Care

The Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care received the 2009 Picker Organizational Award for Excellence® in the Advancement of Patient-Centered Care. The Picker Institute presented this award at the International Society for Quality in Health Care's (ISQua) International Conference in Dublin, Ireland, on October 12, 2009, "In recognition of the success of the Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care in advancing patient- and family-centered care in all settings where individuals receive care and support."

Upon accepting the award on behalf of the Institute, Bev Johnson, President and CEO, stated:

"Thank you. It is indeed an honor to accept this lovely award from the Picker Institute on behalf of the Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care. I still vividly remember when I first learned about the Picker Institute and its pioneering work...it was 20 years ago through an open door in a hallway at an AHA meeting, someone speaking with passion about the patient's experience of care... The award is especially meaningful because the Picker Institute has helped the world understand the importance of the experience of care and the essential link between that experience and quality, safety, and the best outcomes.

In accepting this award, I would like to acknowledge and honor the extraordinary IPFCC staff and Board of Directors for their inspired work and commitment, but also all of the patients, families, health professionals, and organizational leaders around the world who have given us the opportunity to work with them and learn from them. With this recognition, I hope that patient- and family-centered care and the essential partnerships with patients and families will be central to the health reform debate and actions in our country, the United States, and in other countries around the world. Thank you."

The Picker Awards for Excellence®, established in 2003, recognize individuals and organizations committed to improving the patient experience. The award honors people and organizations that have made a significant contribution to achieving this goal, and "to highlight them as role models for others in the healthcare field."