This concept, central to NCPIE's philosophy and standing as one of the original patient safety coalitions, emphasizes that consumers, patients, caregivers, health care professionals, the pharmaceutical industry, and other stakeholders share a responsibility to improve communication to help ensure appropriate, safe medicine use. The Paul G. Rogers / NCPIE Medication Communicator Awards Program will recognize individuals, organizations and government agencies that have contributed significantly toward promoting medicine communication. Programs or research must have been conducted in 2001, 2002 or 2003.

• Health care professional associations, voluntary health agencies
• Businesses (e.g., health care systems, manufacturers, etc.)

• Individuals
• Government agencies (federal state, municipal)

Theme Code	Description
A	Improving the usefulness of written and/or oral patient medicine information -- see: Healthy People 2010, "Medical Product Safety" Objective #17-4, http://www.healthypeople.gov and http://www.fda.gov/cder/ddmac/workshop2.htm
B	Promoting further understanding of medicine communication issues (e.g., barriers; incentives) via research
C	Informing/educating consumers or health care professionals about appropriate use of medicines via traditional media, via the Internet, and/or via high-tech applications
D	Furthering public policy to support improved medicine communication in a particular population group (e.g., older adults, children, low-income and/or low-literacy medicines users, etc.)

Health care associations and voluntary health agencies: Nominations should focus on a specific program or initiative of the organization rather than general work related to their mission.

Business: Nominations must include evaluative data describing the effectiveness of their program or initiative.

Government: Programs done in partnership with non-government organizations are permitted; however, the government agency must be the lead implementer.

• How closely does the entry align with NCPIE's mission of improving communication about the appropriate use of medicines?
• How closely does the project involve the "medicine education team?" To what degree is it multidisciplinary, and are there outreach components for different stakeholders?
• Does the entry broadly address medicines, or is it product/ disease specific?
  NOTE: Entries promoting a specific medicine and/or compliance-related product will NOT be considered.
• How thorough is the evaluation?
• If the entry has not already been implemented nationally, what is its potential for national application?

• Complete the application form, include appropriate entry fee, and return by June 30, 2003 to:
  
  

  NCPIE -- Awards Program 4915 Saint Elmo Ave. Suite 505 Bethesda, MD 20814-6082

  Click Here for Application Form (in PDF Format)

  
  
• Entries in the individual category must include a current resume or C.V.
  
  
• Supplemental materials (brochures, ad slicks, videos, sample hard copies of web pages, etc.) are permitted and encouraged as part of the application.
  
  
• All entries must include an abstract (one page maximum), and a narrative (four pages maximum) in the following order:
  
  
1. definition of the issue and, if applicable, description of the organization;
2. objective
3. target audience
4. intervention(s) and budget
5. evaluation
6. discussion.
• The abstract and narrative should be typed, double-spaced, on white paper (8.5" x 11"). E-mail submissions are not permitted. Include the original plus four copies.
  
  
• Inquiries prior to June 30 can be directed to Lee Rucker at NCPIE, telephone: (301) 656-8565, ext. 12.
  
  
• Entries received after June 30, 2003 will not be considered.