Membership Criteria
The Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality (AI) at Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM) welcomes collaboration with faculty and staff across Johns Hopkins University (JHU) to improve patient safety, quality, experience, equity, and value. This document discusses criteria for selection and responsibilities of faculty and staff members appointed to AI. Continued success and scholarship at JHU require teams and a community of investigators and practitioners who share similar passions and interests, and who can share core resources, ideas, and methods both formally and informally. Membership in AI affords such an opportunity for quality, safety, and equity scholars and practitioners throughout JHU and JHM to collaborate.
To advance the JHM tripartite mission of research, education, and patient care, the AI welcomes participation from all members of the broader JHU and JHM faculty and clinical operations community who are interested in aspects of care delivery. Our goal is to increase interest, engage, and provide mentoring to JHU faculty and operational leaders/staff with roles supporting safety, quality, equity, and other health services delivery goals.
Members will be either: faculty, those with an academic appointment at a JHU school; or staff, those employed by a JHM entity who are involved in safety and quality implementation or scholarship and who do not hold a faculty appointment. Visiting faculty must have an academic appointment at their home academic institution. A second descriptor will help further delineate the member’s role in AI’s activities in advancing patient safety, quality, experience or equity (PSQ). The designation will be determined by the degree of the member’s involvement with AI and PSQ improvement efforts and their readiness/ ability to mentor others in PSQ. The main designations are: Core or Affiliate members (described below). In addition, there is a Principal Faculty or Staff role (also described below). Designations as Principal Faculty or Staff are handled separately. Principal faculty or staff of AI receive this designation by either leading a major initiative for AI or being hired by AI and are not subject to these appointment criteria or to review by the Membership Review Committee.). Visiting scholars may apply for a Visiting Faculty or staff role (described below).
Additional designations include “Charter Members” (original members of the Quality and Safety Research Group [QSRG] or the Center for Innovation in Quality Patient Care), who are automatically granted Core status without re-application. However, these members may be asked to provide supporting documentation regarding their ongoing AI-related activities. “Senior Advisors” are leaders in quality, safety, experience and equity whose work provides important support for the mission of AI, although they are not closely involved in other AI activities. Finally, individuals or delegations may arrange for short-term site visits with AI known as “Observerships,” which may include tours of Hopkins facilities, interview schedules and presentation opportunities.
Applications for AI membership will be accepted on a rolling basis and discussed at a monthly Membership Review Committee meeting. AI Core and Affiliate members’ status will be reviewed by the Committee every three years. The committee will review Visiting Faculty appointments annually, including the engagement of the AI sponsor and the visitor’s home department/institution. AI members will be asked to provide supporting documentation for the renewal of their appointments.
The criteria for appointments with AI are summarized in Table 1 and key appointments are discussed in detail below.
Overview Table: Nomenclature for AI membership designations
| Designation* | Description / Criteria |
| Principal |
Established leader meeting AT LEAST ONE of these criteria:
|
| Core | Established PSQ Scholar or Expert meeting ALL the following criteria:
|
| Affiliate | Developing PSQ Scholar or Expert meeting ALL the following criteria:
|
| Senior Advisor |
An institutional leader who supports the AI mission without direct involvement in AI efforts:
|
| Visiting | External (non-Hopkins) faculty who is formally appointed as a visitor at Johns Hopkins, is on-site, and meets ALL the following criteria:
|
| Observer | Individuals or delegations participating in a short onsite visit with AI
|
* Only the designation representing the highest level of engagement applies. All internal appointments are for three years while visiting status is granted for one year. AI Sponsor refers to an AI Core faculty or staff member who agrees to link the applicant to AI opportunities and peers and to offer mentorship on growth in PSQ at least once annually. Abbreviations: AI – Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality; PSQ – Patient Safety and Quality (includes experience and equity)
Core Member
Must be extensively involved with AI – example: grants, operations, mentorship of people in quality and safety
Faculty and staff are eligible to receive this appointment if they a) meet all requirements, b) fulfill all responsibilities, and c) complete the AI appointment process as outlined in “Procedures for AI Candidacy.” Core faculty and staff members may have swing space inside an AI location, and will be expected to attend AI faculty and staff meetings, participate in strategic planning, and operate to advance the mission of the AI. The Director must approve the allocation of space and other scarce institutional resources prior to assignment. An overview of requirements across designations is in Table 2.
Term of Appointment: 3 years
-
- Completed advanced degree in a field relevant to the AI mission or a scholarly or operational focus on patient safety, quality, and/or equity as demonstrated through peer-reviewed articles, presentations, volunteer or funded projects, or operational leadership in PSQ
- Primary faculty appointment at a JHU school (full or part-time) OR staff appointment in PSQ at a JHM entity PSQ
- Ability and willingness to provide mentorship in quality and patient safety scholarship, operations, career development, and/or project initiatives
- Demonstrated prior commitment to patient safety and quality and active involvement with grants, contracts, personnel, committees, PSQ operational roles, improvement projects, or other PSQ-field citizenship behaviors
-
Core Members must make meaningful contributions through several or all of the following:
- Contribute to the teaching mission of the AI by teaching or directing AI non-credit courses (workshops and training) sponsored by the AI
- Contribute to the quality improvement mission of the AI by being available to serve as an advisor on improvement projects and actively working to improve quality and patient safety within JHM. Leads at least one project per year
- Contribute to the research mission of the AI by participating in AI grants or contracts, collaborating scientifically with other core members, and/or making significant contributions to AI program development
- Attend and participate in Faculty and Staff Meetings and other AI meetings/conferences (including Research in Progress)
- Participate in AI committees
- Participate in the mentoring of students, staff, trainees, and other faculty
- Sponsor (mentor) new members of AI and provide mentorship touchpoints at least 1x per year, as well as upon renewal of membership (Sponsoring does not imply financial support)
- Provide leadership and model the mission and culture of Armstrong Institute
- Publicize membership in AI by including in email signatures
-
- Utilize swing space in AI locations with permission of the Director
- Core faculty may use AI for grant preparation and administration if a) there is capacity (determined by AI financial and research staff) and b) the primary department accepts the arrangement. Rules of appointment regarding eligibility to serve as a PI follow the appointee to AI
- Identification of and use of AI letterhead as a Core Member
- Permission to identify self as a Core AI member on CV and/or business cards
- Inclusion of AI text in the Resources/Environment section of grant applications
- Use of AI conference rooms with a reservation
- Use of AI equipment
- Access to other core resources as available
-
- Present at Grand Rounds
- Present at Research-in-Progress Seminars
- Access to AI SharePoint (internal communications page)
- Access to AI network of colleagues to build your professional contacts within and outside AI (clinical, technical, research)
- May participate by invitation in grants and contracts
- May propose collaborations with other AI members
- Receive notices of funding opportunities (e.g., ACTION Requests for Task Orders)
- Teaching--Core Members may propose courses to offer through AI
- Operations-- Core Members will participate in prioritizing system initiatives and improvement projects and will lead and participate in operations projects
- Participate in Writing Accountability Groups, Paper Partnerships, training and education and other capacity builders
- Invitations to AI Events
Affiliate Member
Faculty and Staff are eligible to receive this appointment if they a) meet all eligibility requirements, b) fulfill some, but not necessarily all responsibilities, and c) complete the AI appointment process as outlined in “Procedures for AI Candidacy.” Consideration will be given not only to the number of responsibilities met, but also to the closeness of the association with the AI and its Core Faculty and Staff Members. This appointment recognizes faculty and staff who have close working associations with AI Faculty and Members and who have contributed to the AI mission and goals. Affiliate Faculty/Members will be able to participate in a community of scholars and practitioners working on PSQ and may: participate in training and conduct of research, receive mentoring, and assist in implementing and evaluating interventions throughout JHM. An overview of requirements across designations is offered in Table 2.
Term of Appointment: 3 years
-
- Completed advanced degree in a field relevant to the AI mission or a scholarly or operational focus on patient safety, quality, and/or equity as demonstrated through peer-reviewed articles, presentations, and volunteer or funded projects
- Primary faculty appointment at The Johns Hopkins University or staff appointment in PSQ at a JHM PSQ entity
- Demonstrated interest in patient safety and quality and willingness to be actively involved with Armstrong Institute events, faculty or staff meetings, research or clinical operations projects, AI personnel, and committees or other citizenship behaviors
-
Affiliate Members must attend and participate in faculty and staff meetings and other AI meetings/conferences (notably, Grand Rounds) AND must fulfill AT LEAST ONE of the following:
- Participate regularly in major courses sponsored by the AI or other core activities
- Contribute to quality and patient safety projects within JHM
- Participate in AI grants, collaborating scientifically with other core faculty members
- Make contributions to AI program development or sit on AI committees/ planning groups
- Provide leadership and model the mission and culture of Armstrong Institute
-
- Utilize swing space in AI locations with permission of the Director
- Identification of and use of AI letterhead as Affiliate Faculty
- Permission to identify self as Affiliate AI faculty/member on CV and/or business cards
- Inclusion of AI text in the Resources/Environment section of grant applications
- Use of AI conference rooms with reservations
- Use of AI equipment
-
- Present at Grand Rounds
- Present at Research-in-Progress Seminars
- Access to AI SharePoint (internal communications page)
- Access to AI network of colleagues, a chance to build your professional contacts within and outside AI (clinical, technical, research)
- May participate by invitation in grants and contracts; May propose collaborations with other AI members
- Receive notices of funding opportunities (e.g., ACTION Requests for Task Orders)
- Teaching—Members may propose courses to offer through AI
- Operations—Members may be tapped to participate in operations projects; faculty/members may generate ideas for projects and/or initiatives and participate in prioritization propose projects to operations
- Participate in Writing Accountability Groups, Paper Partnerships, training and education and other capacity builders
- Invitations to AI Events
Visiting Faculty or Member
Individuals are eligible to receive this appointment if they a) meet all requirements as for Affiliate Faculty/Members above except permanent full-time JHU faculty appointments; b) are prepared to fulfill some, but not necessarily all, responsibilities; and c) complete the AI appointment process as outlined in “Procedures for AI Candidacy.” Visiting faculty status can only be awarded to individuals who have obtained a visiting appointment with a department that has the ability to grant primary appointments. An AI visiting faculty will by definition be expected to be geographically located on the campus of The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, and have close working associations with AI Faculty. This appointment lasts 1 year. Individuals who do not have a faculty appointment may be considered on a case-by-case basis. A comparison of appointments appears in Table 2.
Term of Appointment: 1 year
-
- Completed advanced degree in a field relevant to the AI mission or a scholarly focus on patient safety and quality improvement, demonstrated through peer-reviewed articles, presentations, and volunteer or funded projects
- Primary faculty appointment at an academic university
- Individuals who do not have a faculty appointment may be considered on a case-by-case basis
-
Visiting Faculty must attend faculty and staff meetings AND fulfill AT LEAST ONE of the following:
- Participate in major courses or other events and activities sponsored by the AI
- Collaborate closely with AI personnel
- Contribute to the research mission of the AI by participating in AI grants, collaborating scientifically with faculty members, and/or making significant contributions to AI program development
- Contribute to the quality improvement mission of the AI by being available to advise on quality and patient safety projects within the JHM
-
- Utilize swing space in AI locations with permission of the Director
- Identification of and use of AI letterhead as Visiting Faculty
- Permission to identify self as Visiting AI faculty on CV and/or business cards
- Inclusion of AI text in the Resources/Environment section of grant applications
- Use of AI conference rooms with reservations
- Use of AI equipment
-
- Present at Grand Rounds
- Present at Research-in-Progress Seminars
- Access to AI network of colleagues, the chance to build your professional contacts within and outside AI (clinical, technical, research)
- May participate by invitation in grants and contracts; May propose collaborations with other AI members
- Receive notices of funding opportunities (e.g., ACTION Requests for Task Orders)
- Teaching—Faculty may propose courses to offer through AI
- Operations--Faculty may be tapped to participate in operations projects; faculty may propose projects to operations (operations is not obligated to accept)
- Participate in Writing Accountability Groups, Paper Partnerships, training and education and other capacity builders
- Invitations to AI Events
Observership
An individual or delegation may request a short onsite visit with AI if they meet the responsibilities:
-
- Visit of no longer than three business days
- Visit must be arranged at least one month in advance with the Armstrong Institute Administrator Robert Elliott and his staff
- Visitors must handle their own travel and lodging arrangements (although AI can provide recommendations), own VISA
- Arrangements must be at minimal cost to AI, on an as-available basis
- Observerships require a visit sponsor/ collaborator who is a Faculty or a Member of AI
-
- Utilize swing space in AI locations during the visit with permission of the Director
- Permission to identify self as having completed an AI Observership on CV
-
- Present at a Research-in-Progress Seminar
- Access to AI network of colleagues, the chance to build your professional contacts within and outside AI (clinical, technical, research)
- Invitations to AI Events
Membership Overview
| Core Member | Affiliate Member | Visiting Faculty | |
| Requirements | |||
| Training: Advanced degree or scholarship in field relevant to AI mission |
X | X | X |
| Scholarship: Peer-reviewed publications in the field of patient safety and/or quality OR |
X | X | X |
| Contribution to Operational Mission | X | X | |
| Faculty or Staff appointment: Johns Hopkins University | X | X | |
| Faculty appointment: Academic University | X | ||
| Term | 3 years | 3 years | 1 year |
| Responsibilities | |||
| Contribute to teaching mission of AI |
X | X or | X or |
| Contribute to quality improvement mission of AI |
X | X or | X or |
| Contribute to the research mission of AI |
X | X | X |
| Attend Faculty Meetings |
X | X | X |
| Participate in mentoring |
X | ||
| Privileges | |||
| Access to Swing Space in the AI (with permission) |
X | X | X |
| Use of AI administrative/financial team support |
X (faculty only) | ||
| Use AI letterhead |
X | X | X |
| Identification as AI member on CV and business cards (appropriate designation) |
X | X | X |
| Inclusion of AI in Resources / Environment section of grants |
X (faculty only) | X (faculty only) | X (faculty only) |
| Use of AI conference rooms (with reservations) |
X | X | X |
| Use of AI equipment |
X | X | X |
| Access to other AI resources as available |
X |