Patient Experience Awards

Submissions for the 2025 Patient Experience Awards will be accepted between October 2 and November 18, 2024. Click here to learn about the recipients of the 2024 awards.

About the Patient Experience Awards

The Patient Experience Awards were established by the HQCA and its Patient and Family Advisory Committee to recognize and spread knowledge about initiatives that improve the patient’s overall experience in accessing and receiving healthcare services.

Up to four initiatives are recognized annually. Click here to learn about past award recipients.

Who can apply or be nominated?

Any team in Alberta involved in designing and implementing an initiative that promotes a positive patient experience in accessing or receiving healthcare services.

A successful applicant:

  • Has some evidence from the patient perspective that something needed to be changed or improved.
  • Engages patients and/or their family members in the process to improve (including the evaluation).
  • Can show how their patients’ and their families’ experiences have been positively impacted by this approach or initiative. Different forms of evidence are accepted, from metrics to anecdotal lived experience.

What types of initiatives qualify?

Initiatives in any healthcare setting including, but not only: primary care, acute care, home care, transitions in care, and continuing care. The initiatives that will be considered must show how they have made a positive impact on the patient experience.

How do I apply for the award?

Nominations occur in two parts, described below. Read this brief user guide to help you prepare to apply online.

Part A, due November 18, 2024, requires:

  • a 500-word summary explaining how the initiative positively impacts specific element(s) of patient experience
  • two statements of support from patients or family members connected with your program, which describe how the initiative delivers positive patient experience

Please see the user guide for the HQCA’s definition of patient and family and for details about the items of support. All applicants will learn the results of Part A in mid December. The selection committee will invite shortlisted applicants to move on to Part B.


Part B, for those who are shortlisted, is due in February 2025 and involves a 2,000-word detailed summary of the initiative.

Contact us at info@hqca.ca with any questions.

Thank you for taking time to apply.