NQF is now accepting applications for its 2012 National Quality Healthcare Award. Interested organizations must complete an Intent to Apply and submit it no later than December 22, 2011 to be considered eligible.

San Jose, California, October 4, 2011—Vocera Communications, Inc., announced the commercial introduction of the new Vocera B3000 Communication Badge featuring enhanced durability, audio quality and speech recognition.

Boulder, Colorado, September 13, 2011—The University of Michigan Health System has selected Connexall USA as its system-wide integration platform to connect clinical alarm and alert data from medical devices to communications devices, wireless phones and pagers for its new 348-bed C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital.

Aug. 30, 2011—The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is soliciting research proposals that address nursing practice, care, and education for consideration by RWJF and its partners in a multi-funder initiative. The goal of the initiative is to identify, generate, synthesize and disseminate evidence essential to implementing the recommendations outlined in the Institute of Medicine’s report, “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.” The RWJF Interdisciplinary Nursing Quality Research Initiative is managing the initiative for RWJF and is accepting proposals until January 3, 2012.

Deerfield, IL, Aug. 25, 2011—Baxter International Inc. announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Baxa Corporation, a privately held company based in Englewood, Colo. Baxa develops pharmacy technology that enhances the efficiency and safety of oral and IV dose preparation and delivery. The addition of Baxa’s product lines will complement Baxter’s portfolio of nutrition products and drug delivery systems and supports patient safety.

Aug. 15, 2011—The AHRA & Toshiba “Putting Patients First” program provides six grants of up to $7,500 each to hospitals and imaging centers and an additional grant of up to $20,000 to an integrated delivery etwork to fund programs, training or seminars aimed at improving patient care and safety in CT, MR, Ultrasound, X-ray and vascular imaging. The application deadline is Oct. 11, 2011.

Washington, D.C. and Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois August 3, 2011—The National Quality Forum (NQF) and The Joint Commission are accepting applications for the 2011 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards.

MITSS (Medically Induced Trauma Support Services, Inc.) is accepting nominations for the 4th annual HOPE Award, to be presented at the MITSS Annual Dinner in Boston, Nov. 1, 2011.

Organizations that have demonstrated measurable improvement results are invited to present at ASQ’s Quality Institute for Healthcare, May 21-23, 2012, in Anaheim, Calif. Deadline for submissions is Sept. 5, 2011.