Recognition received for Primary Care and Surgical/Procedural Honorees Demonstrating Measurable Advances in Documentation Accuracy and Preventive Care Delivery
The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Bernard A. Kershner Innovations in Quality Improvement (QI) Awards, unveiled at the December Achieving Accreditation conference’s networking reception. The annual awards recognize AAAHC-Accredited Organizations that demonstrate excellence and measurable success in improving the quality of care, patient safety, and operational performance through innovative QI initiatives.
Named in honor of the late Bernard A. Kershner, a leader in ambulatory health care and a distinguished past Chair of the AAAHC Institute Board of Trustees, the award recognizes excellence across both primary care and surgical/procedural sectors. This year’s winners demonstrated strong application of the AAAHC six-component criteria for QI, showcasing how structured, data-driven initiatives can advance safety and support continuous improvement throughout the 1,095-day accreditation cycle.
“The 2025 Kershner Award winners submitted quality improvement studies that reflect dedication, ingenuity, and leadership in ambulatory health care,” said Steven Butz, MD, AAAHC Board Chair. “Our Expert Panel recognized the University of Kansas Health System’s focused effort to reduce missed documentation and found NYU Student Health Center’s innovative approach to increasing immunization rates as noteworthy. Both winners exemplify how data-driven QI initiatives can strengthen patient safety, enhance operational reliability, and elevate the overall patient experience.”
2025 Bernard A. Kershner Surgical/Procedural Care Winner
The University of Kansas Health System, Indian Creek Campus Ambulatory Surgery Center, Overland Park, KS
Blood Glucose Documentation Improvement Study
The Indian Creek Campus Ambulatory Surgery Center initiated a targeted QI study to strengthen perioperative safety by reducing inconsistent or missed preoperative blood glucose documentation. By refining documentation workflows, providing focused staff training, and establishing real-time monitoring for compliance, the center streamlined its processes and improved reliability across teams. Over the course of the QI project, the organization achieved a 75% reduction in missed documentation occurrences, surpassing its goal of fewer than 1% missed or inconsistent entries and reinforcing the role of accurate, timely documentation in supporting safe surgical care.
2025 Bernard A. Kershner Primary Care Winner
New York University (NYU) Student Health Center, New York, NY
Initiative to Increase Vaccine Uptake in Student Health
The NYU Student Health Center implemented its immunization improvement initiative to address low uptake of recommended vaccines among college students and reduce missed preventive care opportunities. By applying the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Model for Improvement, the team introduced practical, student-centered interventions such as walk-in and pop-up vaccine clinics, strengthened reminder prompts within clinical workflows, and enhanced nurse-led vaccine reviews during routine visits. These efforts made vaccinations more accessible and integrated into daily care. As a result, the center achieved a 124% rise in HPV vaccinations and a 94% increase in Tdap uptake, demonstrating how coordinated, flexible approaches can effectively close immunization gaps in a campus ambulatory care setting.
“Every year, the Kershner QI Award gives us an opportunity to shine a light on organizations that are transforming care through thoughtful, well-designed quality improvement,” said Julie Lynch, MS, BSN, RN, Director, Institute for Quality Improvement. “This year’s honorees demonstrate how targeted interventions can drive measurable progress and strengthen patient and team safety. Their work reflects the spirit of continuous improvement throughout the entire accreditation term. We hope their accomplishments motivate others to explore new ways to elevate quality in their own practices.”
This year’s winning organizations demonstrate practical, measurable approaches to strengthening patient safety, documentation accuracy, and preventive care. Their achievements underscore AAAHC’s mission to foster ongoing QI across ambulatory primary care and surgical/procedural settings. The Kershner QI Awards highlight how evidence-based interventions can drive meaningful, lasting impact on care delivery. Organizations are encouraged to apply for the 2026 Kershner QI Awards, with submissions opening January 5, 2026.
To learn more about how to apply for the Kershner QI Awards, please visit https://www.aaahc.org/
