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Kershner Award Submissions

2025 Kershner QI Award Submissions

AAAHC encourages accredited organizations to prepare for 2025 submissions by completing Quality Improvement studies utilizing the new six-component criteria and preparing to submit a study for 2025. You are already doing the work as a AAAHC-accredited organization by submitting documentation of two studies during your Application for Survey. Prepare for your 2025 submission today!

2025 study submissions will begin January 6, 2025.

2025 Kershner QI Award Submission Timeline

The process for submission is quick and easy.

  • Submissions open January 6, 2025
  • Last Day to Submit Applications March 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM CT
  • Expert Panel Final Decisions June 4, 2025
  • Committee Approval of Finalists June 11, 2025
  • Calls and email informing top six Submissions that they are Kershner Award Finalists (three Primary Care, three Surgical/Procedural) June 16-18, 2025
  • QI Study Poster Deadline (finalists only)  July 15, 2025
  • “The Road to Success” Webinar featuring the 2025 finalists released September 23, 2025
  • People’s Choice Award Voting September 23 to December 11, 2025
  • Announcement of Winners  December 11, 2025, live at Achieving Accreditation  in Las Vegas

2025 Kershner QI Award Criteria

The AAAHC Institute appointed an Expert Panel to review all submissions. The panel will judge submissions for clarity and conciseness as well as the AAAHC six-Component Criteria as posted in the Quality Institute section of the website (see Quality Resources) or in the 1095 Engage platform. Please choose a study that has been completed and at least one to two rounds of sustainment have been achieved.

1.     Purpose of the study4. Corrective action/improvement opportunities taken
2.     Goal of the study5. Remeasurement
3.     Identification of the causes of the gap6. Communication of the results to the governing body and across the organization as appropriate

In addition, the Expert Panel reviews all submissions for evidence of innovative thinking, working as a team, and examples of studies that can be used in other ambulatory health care settings or for other ambulatory health care issues.

To preview the full 2025 Submission Agreement and Questions click here.

For the six studies (three Primary Care, three Surgical/Procedural) chosen as finalists by the Expert Panel, based on most closely reflecting the criteria above, one representative of each study will receive:

  • An honorarium of $500 (limit one per organization, six in total) for each poster presentation
  • Complimentary registration (limit one per organization, six in total) for the AAAHC Achieving Accreditation program where the winners will be announced
  • Physical awards for the organization(s) authoring the best study as selected by the Expert Panel and by peers
  • Publication of the posters in AAAHC newsletters, websites, and educational offerings, such as Achieving Accreditation

In compliance with HIPAA, no patient identifiers are allowed on the application.

Contact the AAAHC Quality Institute at quality@aaahc.org with any questions.

Program void where prohibited.


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Achieving Accreditation

Strengthen your accreditation readiness

Achieving Accreditation is an interactive, immersive event designed to help you learn and prepare for your AAAHC survey while developing a deeper understanding of AAAHC Standards. We are facing the future together…1095 Strong!

Learn more about Achieving Accreditation

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Kershner Quality Improvement Award

Check out exemplary studies

Kershner QI Awards recognize excellence in quality improvement methodology and outcomes for AAAHC-accredited organizations in both the surgical/procedural and primary care space.

Learn more about QI innovation