AHRQ Innovations Exchange

August 10, 2007

Dear Colleague:

The National Hispanic Medical Association ( NHMA) is partnering with the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality’s (AHRQ) “Health Care Innovations Exchange Initiative,” to identify Hispanic physicians and other healthcare professionals who have made significant contributions reducing health disparities in the Hispanic community in the clinical setting.

This project is a wonderful opportunity for you to help us nominate Hispanic health professionals within our circles who merit this recognition, as well as credit their institution for supporting these individuals. AHRQ plans to recognize these innovations, and their innovators, on their website and through the Agency’s online learning community.

AHRQ has identified a six-point ‘inclusion criteria’ which represents the minimum requirements for inclusion in the Innovation Exchange Initiative. The innovation must

1) be related to health care service delivery, 2) intended to improve quality, 3) have sufficient evidence of effectiveness, 4) be innovative, 5) be publicly available, and 6) Include the participation of the innovator.

Please be aware that AHRQ is also looking individuals to serve as a) faculty and facilitators to the Initiative’s learning community, b) as learning community participants, and c) participants to the Initiative’s strategic planning process. Please tell us if you have an interest in participating. Additional information for this project can be found on the AHRQ website: www.ahrq.gov

In closing, we ask that you or your colleagues return the enclosed form, which asks for a description of the innovation and the innovator who is being nominated. The form and any question can be emailed to innovations@nhmamd.org., or by writing our national offices above.

I look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Elena Rios, M.D., M.S.P.H.

Download submission form