The APEX Quality Award represents CTQ's recognition of the highest performing healthcare facilities, specifically measuring overall patient satisfaction and loyalty attributes.

The definition of APEX is the highest or culminating point. CTQ couples this definition with Attributes for Patient Excellence, as the APEX award is patient-centric. CTQ extends the APEX Quality recognition to healthcare organizations receiving the highest overall scores provided directly from their patients.

To create an even playing field, CTQ's eligibility guidelines for APEX consideration are as follows. Each healthcare provider must:
 ·  Exceed the 90th percentile of their peer's overall score
 ·  Meet a minimum survey response threshold during the 12 months of award consideration
 ·  Measure a minimum number of key performance indicators selected by CTQ.


CTQ's surveys are heavily weighted with measurements that assess various care attributes. Interaction with surgeons, nurses and anesthesiologists are balanced by other continuum of care assessments. For example, pain management, recovery experience, pre-visit and discharge instructions have one or more measures. Other important metrics such as privacy, comfort, family inclusion and courtesy measures with key staff are collected, aggregated and benchmarked.

Categories for the Apex award include Ambulatory Surgery, Endoscopy, Hospitals, Outpatient Diagnostic Imaging Services, Therapy & Rehabilitation and Physician Practices.