Posted by Sarah Nocito on June 26, 2019
We know that many of the most innovative and high impact ideas for improving pediatric IBD care are likely to come from those living with the condition on a daily basis—ImproveCareNow (ICN) parent and patient partners. Previously, there was not a formal mechanism to encourage and provide support for projects proposed by these partners. While many successful projects have been carried out by dedicated parent and patient members of the ICN community, many more are not able to be advanced without funding and assistance.
In 2017, we decided to address these needs and advance projects that will make a difference in the lives of our community members. With support from the David R. Clare and Margaret C. Clare Foundation, we launched the ImproveCareNow Patient and Parent Innovation Fund. In the first two years, the Innovation Fund has supported three projects, and we are excited to announce that funding will continue with Round Three of the ImproveCareNow Patient and Parent Innovation Fund in 2019.
In round three of the Innovation Fund, ImproveCareNow will again provide financial assistance and other resources to one innovative project. These projects must be proposed and led by patients or parents at ImproveCareNow centers and/or who are active members of the ImproveCareNow Patient Advisory Council or Parent Working Group.
The selected projects will support the ImproveCareNow community’s mission to transform the health, care and costs for all children and adolescents with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. We particularly encourage projects that will also enhance and expand participation in the community, giving more patients, parents, and others the opportunity to become part of our collaborative learning health network.
Proposals are being accepted through August 2 and will be reviewed by a community panel (including clinicians, parents, patients, and ICN leadership) that will assess each project’s alignment with community goals, potential impact, and appropriate scale and scope for the funding provided. Funded projects will receive clinician or improvement expert mentoring, project management support, and ongoing feedback from Network leaders and faculty. ImproveCareNow will work with the leaders of the funded projects to determine the best way to spread and promote the project to the entire community of improvers. Projects that are not funded in round three will benefit from feedback, as well as potential connections to others interested in partnering on similar activities.
We are so very delighted to continue to learn from our community of patient and parent innovators and to continue finding ways to improve pediatric IBD care, together!
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About ImproveCareNow
ImproveCareNow is a Learning Health Network dedicated to transforming care, health and costs for all children and youth with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD) by building a sustainable collaborative chronic care network. We are enabling patients, families, clinicians and researchers to work together in a learning health care system to accelerate innovation, discovery and the application of new knowledge. We invite everyone interested in getting kids with IBD better right now to join us!
Related Links:
See complete details about the Patient and Parent Innovation Fund
Growing Our Engagement Community – A How To Manual