National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management
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EVALUATION CRITERIA
EPA is no longer accepting applications for the 2008 National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management. Below is a description of the 2008 application. Reviewing this information may help you prepare for the 2009 awards. Keep in mind, however, that EPA may modify program details based on this year’s experience and program direction. Visit this site in October 2008 for details on the 2009 awards program.
Applications will be reviewed by a panel composed of federal and non-federal representatives with expertise in asthma care, health care policy, quality of care, and economics. Applicants will be judged solely on the information in their applications. In making award decisions, the panel will use the criteria described below to evaluate applications. These criteria reflect the importance of an integrated, comprehensive asthma management program — as well as the focus of this award on Environmental Leadership in Asthma Management.

Below is a description of the elements applications must demonstrate in order to receive full credit for any area. Note that the review panel will award partial credit when some, but not all, of the criteria are met.

To print a PDF of the evaluation criteria, click here.

1. COMPREHENSIVE ASTHMA MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (20 points)

To receive full points for a comprehensive asthma management program, applicants must demonstrate that the following elements are in place and describe how they contribute to program success.
  • Clear goals for managing asthma comprehensively.
  • Existence of a robust, multi-faceted program that embodies a comprehensive approach to managing asthma throughout the continuum of care.
  • Evidence of established mechanisms to ensure consistent and effective communication and collaboration among a multi-disciplinary team (e.g., specialists, primary care physicians, case managers, community partners) responsible for implementing the program throughout the continuum of care.
  • Evidence that NIH Guidelines EPR 3 are integrated into a comprehensive program approach.
  • Long-term planning mechanisms and approaches for sustaining a comprehensive asthma program.

2. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT OF ASTHMA (40 points)
To receive full points for environmental management of asthma, applicants must demonstrate that they are making a successful effort to address management of exposure to indoor and outdoor environmental triggers throughout the continuum of care and describe how this contributes to improved patient outcomes and program success.
  • Existence of a comprehensive strategy to effectively manage a patient's exposure to indoor and outdoor environmental triggers throughout the continuum of care (e.g., menu of multifaceted allergen control interventions, mechanisms for communicating treatments and promoting skill-building and behavior change).
  • Presence of multi-faceted approaches for managing a patient's exposure to indoor and outdoor environmental triggers (e.g., education and outreach programs, multifaceted allergen control interventions such as home visits, case management, durable equipment, asthma counseling, social service referrals, and collaboration with local organizations to deliver interventions).
  • Evidence of mechanisms to ensure that health care professionals responsible for treating asthma are knowledgeable about environmental trigger education and management.
  • Evidence of established mechanisms to ensure that health care professionals responsible for treating asthma receive feedback regarding the measures taken to manage exposure to indoor and outdoor environmental triggers.
  • Long-term planning mechanisms and approaches for sustaining an environmental management component of a comprehensive asthma program.

3. POSITIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES (20 points)

To receive full points for positive health outcomes, applicants must demonstrate that they collect quantitative health outcomes data related to their comprehensive asthma management program, are making a concerted effort to identify how environmental management contributes to these results, and can describe how evaluation efforts contribute to improved patient outcomes and program success. Applicants describing qualitative data, including anecdotal evidence, will receive partial credit.

  • Evidence that the program tracks process measures (e.g., appropriate use of asthma medications, primary and specialty care visit rates).
  • Evidence that the program tracks health outcome measures such as reduced hospitalizations and ER visits, improved quality of life, symptom free days.
  • Evidence that the program tracks process measures and health outcomes attributable to environmental management (e.g., number of people with reduced exposure to environmental asthma triggers, number of patients implementing environmental controls).
4. COST SAVINGS OR RETURN ON INVESTMENT (10 points)

To receive full points for cost savings or return on investment, applicants must demonstrate that they are collecting quantitative evidence of cost savings or return on investment attributable to their comprehensive asthma program, are making a concerted effort to determine how environmental management contributes to cost savings or return on investment, and discuss how cost savings or return on investment affect program strategy and direction. Applicants describing qualitative data, including anecdotal evidence, will receive partial credit. Examples of qualitative returns on investment include non-monetary returns such as reduced health disparities, stronger community relationships or public relations or competitive advantages.
  • Evidence that the program measures cost savings or return on investment.
  • Evidence that the program makes a concerted effort to attribute contribution of environmental management to cost savings or return on investment.
  • Approach for integrating cost savings or return on investment into overall program strategy and direction (e.g., evidence of cost shifting or other efficiency measures).
5. DISTINGUISHING PROGRAM FEATURES (10 points)

To receive full points for distinguishing program features, applicants must demonstrate features of their program that are unique, innovative, creative, or otherwise distinguish their program from others and describe how these features contribute to overall program success. Applicants should specifically highlight any unique or exceptional element of the environmental management component of their program.
  • Evidence that the program incorporates unique, innovative, or creative features that improve the quality of care provided to people with asthma, in particular those disproportionately impacted or underserved.
  • Evidence of unique or innovative partnerships or collaborations that extend asthma care and, in particular, the environmental management component, into community settings such as schools or workplaces.
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