The Ten Point Nine QI Team Award honors a NICU team that has made significant contributions to quality improvement within their unit. Roughly 50% of CPQCC NICUs have an average daily census (ADC) of less than 11. CPQCC's Ten Point Nine Workgroup was formed in 2020 to support these NICUs and their unique challenges. The winner of the Ten Point Nine QI Team Award will receive a plaque to commemorate receiving this honor and a scholarship to attend CPQCC's Improvement Palooza.
Some characteristics to consider when nominating a NICU QI team for the Ten Point Nine QI Team Award include:
- CPQCC NICU with an ADC of less than 11 in the past year
- NICU QI team has contributed significantly to their unit’s improvement efforts
- NICU has made tangible changes to processes with a demonstrable impact
- There is no need for the QI work to be previously published or presented; CPQCC will provide a platform for the team to share its work
Submit a nomination for the Ten Point Nine QI Team Award
2026 Awardees:
Salinas Valley Health NICU Team
- Minimally Invasive Surfactant Therapy (MIST)
- Implementation of both the Least Invasive Surfactant Administration (LISA) via a thin catheter and Surfactant Administration via Laryngeal Subglottic Airway (SALSA) procedures
- 90% of infants receiving surfactant via MIST (n = 18) have not required subsequent endotracheal intubation/mechanical ventilation
- Improved processes around EMR pharmacy order sets
- Streamlined staff wide education and local Level III NICUs (Dominican & Natividad)
Previous Awardees:
2025: Antelope Valley Medical Center
2024: Olive View NICU & Newborn Nursery Teams
2023: Rady Children's Rancho Springs NICU Team (Under the leadership of Drs. Song and Weiss; accepting the award on behalf of the team are Kathy Weiss, MD, Neonatologist and Dawn Hesson, MSN, RN, CPN, CCRN, NE-BC, Rancho Springs Nursing Supervisor)