Funding and Implementation Opportunities

This is a curated list of active federally sponsored implementation initiatives and funding opportunities geared toward improving patient and healthcare workforce safety to contribute to a more resilient healthcare system. 

Implementation Opportunities

AHRQ Implementation Opportunity: AHRQ Safety Program for HAI Prevention  

Starting in July 2025, the AHRQ Safety Program for Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI) Prevention will host three programs designed to support ICUs and non-ICUs in preventing HAIs. 

• Program 1: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI)—enrolling through June 30, 2025.
• Program 2: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI)—recruitment begins August 2025.
• Program 3: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and ventilator-associated events (VAE)—recruitment begins March 2026. 

During each 9-month program, participants will spend 2 hours per month in evidence-based educational webinars, coaching calls, and team meetings to promote and improve infection prevention procedures, improve patient safety and safety culture, and enhance teamwork and communication. By participating, hospital units will be better equipped with evidence-based infection prevention strategies to measurably decrease HAIs, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

AHRQ Implementation Opportunity: Implementing Diagnostic Excellence Across Systems (IDEAS)

Diagnostic safety events are a significant challenge across healthcare settings, contributing to preventable harm in 1 in 20 outpatient visits and up to 250,000 inpatient stays annually. To address this issue, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has developed resources like Calibrate Dx, Measure Dx, and the Toolkit for Engaging Patients to Improve Diagnostic Safety. 

The AHRQ-funded Implementing Diagnostic Excellence Across Systems (IDEAS) project is now recruiting healthcare organizations through September 2025 to use and evaluate these tools. Participating organizations can improve care, reduce harm, and gain training and support from leading healthcare quality organizations like RAND and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). 

Funding Opportunities

AHRQ Funding Opportunity: New AHRQ R01: Systems-Based Approaches to Improve Patient Safety by Improving Healthcare Worker Safety and Well-Being

AHRQ is seeking applications for funding support up to $2M over 4 years that propose approaches to improve the interrelated systems and processes embedded in healthcare delivery to support healthcare worker safety and well-being in various health settings.

AHRQ Funding Opportunity: Examining the Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Healthcare Safety 

AHRQ is seeking applicants to advance healthcare safety by exploring how breakthrough applications of artificial intelligence (AI) systems impact patient safety and identifying strategies to ensure their safe implementation and use. AI has the potential to significantly enhance the safety, effectiveness, efficiency, accessibility, and affordability of healthcare. However, to fully realize this potential, it is essential to carefully balance the benefits of AI with efforts to identify and mitigate risks to patient safety and minimize user burden.