Cautious Patient Foundation Announces New Grants Program Aimed to Improve Patient Safety and Quality of Healthcare

Organization to provide $100,000 in grant funding to eligible individuals, groups and nonprofits.

Houston, Texas, June 14, 2011—The Cautious Patient Foundation (CPF), the outreach and educational arm of Patient Always First, a nonprofit organization committed to educating and empowering patients in the quest for quality health care, announced a new grants program to support initiatives that successfully move patients towards greater engagement in their personal or family healthcare process. Over the next 12 months, CPF has allocated $100,000 for grants ranging in size from $2,000 to $7,000 to support projects proposed by individuals, groups or nonprofit organizations.

“The Cautious Patient Foundation strives to educate people on how to obtain better healthcare in addition to becoming more participatory and careful in their interactions with physicians to help reduce misdiagnoses and medical negligence,” said Dr. Cari Oliver, founder of Cautious Patient Foundation and Patient Always First. “We have found that by providing individuals with the right tools and information to effectively interact with their own healthcare system, patients begin to experience better quality of care. This grant program is testament to Cautious Patient Foundation’s ongoing commitment to making tangible, positive contributions in empowering patients to participate in their own health care.”

There is a growing amount of frustration about the quality of healthcare in the U.S. Many patients today do not feel empowered, confident or safe questioning their medical providers about their care and course of treatment. However, when patients are provided with innovative tools and information on how to be their own best advocates for better healthcare, they and their loved ones begin to experience the quality healthcare they need and deserve.

“We are excited about the opportunity to provide project funding, at the grassroots level, to individuals who are working towards better healthcare outcomes on behalf of all present and future patients,” said Bill Thatcher, Executive Director of Cautious Patient Foundation. “Many of those working in this field have experienced first-hand what can go unnecessarily wrong in healthcare delivery services and they are working tirelessly to keep what they experienced from happening to anyone else. Through our grants program, we look forward to supporting projects that will help to promote positive patient outcomes in the healthcare industry.”

CPF will prioritize its grant funding based on the project’s measurable impact on the quality of healthcare and potential to reach the widest number of patients. Projects selected must align with CPF’s specific area of interest of improving patient-provider communication and efficiencies through educational programs and technology-based tools to achieve successful healthcare outcomes.

To apply for CPF’s grants, applicants are asked to submit a pre-application letter that describes the project for which funds are requested. Each request will be screened by CPF for further consideration and if selected, the applicant will be asked to submit a full proposal. Applications for grants will be accepted throughout the year and all applicants must be based in the United States.

Visit www.cautiouspatient.org for application instructions and program information.

About Cautious Patient Foundation
The Cautious Patient Foundation is the educational arm of non-profit organization, Patient Always First, founded by Dr. Cari Oliver in 2004. With its family of educational programs and technology-based tools, the Cautious Patient Foundation is committed to educating and empowering patients in their quest for quality healthcare.