National Quality Award Program

​​​The ​2023 Program ​Year Is Now Open.
Preparing successful applications takes time. ​Download application packets and begin reviewing and gathering relevant data today.​

 Get Started
  • ​​New to the program? Start at the Bronze level.
  • Continuing your quality journey? Start at Silver or Gold​​​​​​​​​.​ 

 Key Dates to Know

  • ​​May 9 - Application packets and materials available ​
  • May 16-18 - Quality Award workshops, sessions and LED Talks at Quality Summit 
  • May 26 - 2022 Bronze recipient notifications 
  • June 23 - 2022 Silver recipients notifications
  • August 15 - 2022 Gold recipients notifications [Note: Due to COVID, notifications have moved from 8/5 to 8/15]​
  • September 15 - Portal opens for application and Intent to Apply (ITA) submissions
  • October 9-12 – AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo and 2022 ​Quality Award Ceremony 
  • November 15​ – ITA deadline
  • January 26, 2023 – Application deadline
  • Summer 2023 – Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award notifications    

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 Bronze Award

About the Bronze Award

The first step in the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program is the Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award.

The Bronze Award level provides applicants with the tools and resources they need for continuous im​provement in quality care. Through the Bronze criteria, based on the Baldrige Excellence Framework, applicants will assess their organization’s mission, vision, and key factors that lead to success. At this award level, utilizing the criteria questions applicants develop an organizational profile for their center. Applying for the AHCA/NCAL Bronze National Quality Award gives your organization a strong foundation for the second step—the Silver – Achievement in Quality Award​ level.  

Questions about the contents of this program may be directed to qualityaward@ahca.org. 


 Bronze Application & Resources
Essential Resources

 ‭(Hidden)‬ 2021 Bronze Key Dates
Notification
June 3, 2021

 Silver Award

About the Silver Award

​The second step in the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program is the Silver – Achievement in Quality Award. 

At the Silver Award level, applicants continue to learn and develop effective approaches that help improve performance and health care outcomes. The Silver criteria, based on the Baldrige Excellence Framework, provide applicants with a thorough assessment of how their organization works, its effectiveness, and tools for improvement in their approaches. The Silver level gives a clear pathway for recipients moving to the highest honor of recognition, the Gold – Excellence in Quality Award. 

Applicants must receive a Bronze – Commitment to Quality​ Award before applying at the Silver level. 

Questions about the contents of this program may be directed to qualityaward@ahca.org. ​

 Silver Application & Resources
Essential Resources
Supporting Documents
Supporting Documents for Assisted Living

 ‭(Hidden)‬ 2021 Silver Key Dates
Notification
June 24, 2021

 Gold Award

About the Gold Award

The final step in the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program is the Gold – Excellence in Quality Award. Recipients of the Gold Award are considered the best of the best in the profession.

​At the Gold Award level, applicants must show superior performance in areas of the criteria including leadership, strategic planning, and customer and staff satisfaction. By completing the Gold level criteria, organizations take their quality journey to a higher level through the valuable feedback received in the application process and thereby reaching organizational goals. Gold applicants address the Baldrige Excellence Framework in its entirety.

Applicants are required to receive the Bronze – Commitment to Quality and Silver – Achievement in Quality​ Awards before applying at the Gold level. 

Questions about the contents of this program may be directed to qualityaward@ahca.org. 

Facility Spotlight

2021 Gold Award:​

2020 Gold Award:​ ​​​

 Gold Application & Resources
Essential Resources
  • Month-By-Month Gold Roadmap
  • Gold Self-Assessment
    This Gold Self-Assessment will help leaders identify whether their organization is ready to apply for recognition as a Gold-level recipient of the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award.
  • Gold Application Packet
    This application packet includes information about the Gold Award, including eligibility requirements, and deadlines. Applicants must read this packet in full and purchase the 2021-2022 Health Care Criteria for Performance Excellence directly from the Baldrige Website.
  • Gold Criteria Video Series on ahcancalED
    The Gold Criteria Series are short videos, each covering an individual question in the Silver Criteria to help applicants work through each section of the application. Be sure to register your team on ahcancalED to access.
  • Gold Quality Award Recipient Characteristics
    These are the characteristics that applicants must exhibit to be recommended for the Gold Quality award.
  • Renewal Policy
Supporting Documents
Supporting Documents for Assisted Living

 ‭(Hidden)‬ 2021 Gold Key Dates

​

 About The Program
​The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program helps you to evaluate your organization’s strengths and opportunities, identify critical areas for improvement, and implement a plan to be stronger, more resilient, and suc​c​essful than ever before. ​​​​​​​​​​​​The ​​three-level program evaluates long term care organizations capabilities against nationally recognized standards for excellence, making it one of the most comprehensive and cost-effective performance assessments available to providers. Each progressive award levels— Bronze – Commitment to Quality, ​​Silver - Achievement in Quality, and Gold – Excellence in Quality, requires a more detailed demonstration of superior performance. Learn more​​​​​ about the value of the program.​

 

 

Resources Available to Assist 2023 Quality Award Applicantshttps://publish.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/Resources-Available-to-Assist-2023-Quality-Award-Applicants.aspxResources Available to Assist 2023 Quality Award Applicants7/27/2022 4:00:00 AM<p><br></p><div>The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program has created free resources to help 2023 Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award applicants. Organizations planning to apply for a 2023 Quality Award are encouraged to begin the process by accessing the Quality Award Criteria Series and Roadmaps for each award level.  </div><div><br></div><div>The Criteria Series contains videos covering application categories, technical writing how-to's to ensure a smooth writing process, along with the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Roadmaps, are available on the Quality Award website. Completing a successful application takes time to prepare. Don’t wait. Gather your team and start today.  </div><div><br></div><div><strong>Bronze Quality Award </strong></div><div><a href="https://educate.ahcancal.org/nationalqualityaward" data-feathr-click-track="true" style="font-size:11pt;">Register</a><span style="font-size:11pt;"> to access the Bronze Award Criteria Series</span><span style="font-size:11pt;"> </span><br></div><div><br><a href="https://educate.ahcancal.org/nationalqualityaward" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank" style="font-family:"segoe ui", "segoe ui web", arial, verdana, sans-serif;font-size:12px;white-space:pre-wrap;"><b style="font-size:11pt;color:#555555;font-family:helvetica, "segoe ui", segoe, tahoma, arial, sans-serif;">Silver Quality Award </b></a><br></div><p><span style="font-size:11pt;"><a href="https://educate.ahcancal.org/nationalqualityaward" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank">Register</a> to access the Silver Award Criteria Series   <br></span><span data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" class="TextRun SCXW31126557 BCX9" style="font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;margin:0px;padding:0px;color:#303133;line-height:16px;font-family:helvetica, helvetica_embeddedfont, helvetica_msfontservice, sans-serif;"> <strong></strong></span><span class="EOP SCXW31126557 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="font-size:11pt;margin:0px;padding:0px;line-height:16px;"><font color="#303133" face="helvetica, helvetica_embeddedfont, helvetica_msfontservice, sans-serif"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><span style="color:#555555;font-size:11pt;background-color:#ffffff;"><strong>Gold Quality Award <br></strong></span><span style="color:#555555;font-size:11pt;background-color:#ffffff;"><a href="https://educate.ahcancal.org/nationalqualityaward" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank">Register</a> to access the Gold Award Criteria Series   </span></span></font></span></p><p><span class="EOP SCXW31126557 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-size:11pt;line-height:16px;"><font color="#303133" face="helvetica, helvetica_embeddedfont, helvetica_msfontservice, sans-serif"> </font> </span><span style="font-size:11pt;"><br>Applying for a National Quality Award provides a framework that can be used to make critical improvements in clinical, quality and operational areas of a facility, and serves as a team building activity to engage staff across all levels.  <br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;"><br>Learn more and download application packets at </span><a href="/Quality/National-Quality-Award-Program/Pages/default.aspx" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank" style="font-size:11pt;">ahcancal.org/qualityaward</a><span style="font-size:11pt;">. <br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;"><br>Contact the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award team with questions at </span><a href="mailto:qualityaward@ahca.org" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank" style="font-size:11pt;">qualityaward@ahca.org​</a><span style="font-size:11pt;">​.<br><br></span></p><div><span class="ms-rteFontSize-4"><strong>Share Your Quality Award Stories of Success</strong></span></div><div><br></div><div>AHCA/NCAL wants to hear your story! <span style="font-size:11pt;">Please share how participating in the Quality Award process impacted quality care at your organization. Describe how the criteria, Quality Award journey, and AHCA/NCAL resources helped make a positive change in your operations. You can share your story on the National Quality Award <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7M6L6ZQ" data-feathr-click-track="true">webpage​</a>.​​</span></div>The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program has created free resources to help 2023 Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award applicants.
Quality Champion Maryruth Butler on How Small Improvements Add Up to Big Changeshttps://publish.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/2022-Provider-LED-Talk---How-Small-Improvements-Add-Up-to-Big-Changes.aspxQuality Champion Maryruth Butler on How Small Improvements Add Up to Big Changes7/12/2022 4:00:00 AM<p>​​​​Drawing from her experience leading organizations to win quality awards, Maryruth Butler, president of Cascadia Health Care, outlines the simple process used to achieve big results. Her dedication to continuous quality care improvement is inspiring and motivating.<br></p><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://www.providermagazine.com/Digital/LED-Talks/Pages/LED-Talks-Maryruth-Butler.aspx?utm_source=MagnetMail&utm_medium=email&utm_term=atodd%40ahca.org&utm_content=ahcap-2022-07-12&utm_campaign=Provider%20News%20Alert:%20How%20Small%20Improvements%20Add%20Up%20to%20Big%20Changes" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank"><img src="/News-and-Communications/Blog/PublishingImages/Pages/2022-Provider-LED-Talk---How-Small-Improvements-Add-Up-to-Big-Changes/Picture2.png" alt="Picture2.png" style="margin:5px;" /></a><br></p><p><br></p><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="/Quality/National-Quality-Award-Program/Pages/default.aspx" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank"><img src="/News-and-Communications/Blog/PublishingImages/Pages/2022-Provider-LED-Talk---How-Small-Improvements-Add-Up-to-Big-Changes/QA%20Applications%202022.png" alt="QA Applications 2022.png" style="margin:5px;" />​</a><br></p><p>​​​</p>
The Bright Future of Long Term Care with Mike Hensley - Provider Interviewhttps://publish.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/The-Bright-Future-of-Long-Term-Care-with-Mike-Hensley---Provider-Interview.aspxThe Bright Future of Long Term Care with Mike Hensley - Provider Interview7/1/2022 4:00:00 AM<p>​​Provider <em>Magazine</em> Editor-in-Chief Debbie Stadtler interviews <span style="font-size:11pt;">​Mike Hensley, managing partner and owner at Burgess Square Healthcare and Rehab Centre, about how he was inspired to choose a career in long term care and what he sees as the challenges and opportunities in quality improvement. Burgess Squ</span><span style="font-size:11pt;">are winning a Gold Quality Award is proof that improvement processes work.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:11pt;"><br></span></p><p><span style="font-size:11pt;"></span></p><div style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://www.providermagazine.com/Digital/ProviderTV/Pages/The-Bright-Future-of-Long-Term-Care-with-Mike-Hensley.aspx?utm_source=MagnetMail&utm_medium=email&utm_term=atodd%40ahca.org&utm_content=ahcap-2022-06-30&utm_campaign=Provider%20News%20Alert:%20The%20Bright%20Future%20of%20Long%20Term%20Care%20with%20Mike%20Hensley" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank"><img src="/News-and-Communications/Blog/PublishingImages/Pages/The-Bright-Future-of-Long-Term-Care-with-Mike-Hensley---Provider-Interview/Mike%20Hensley.png" alt="Mike Hensley.png" style="margin:5px;" /></a><br></div><div style="text-align:center;"><br></div><div style="text-align:center;"><a href="/Quality/National-Quality-Award-Program/Pages/default.aspx" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank"><img src="/News-and-Communications/Blog/PublishingImages/Pages/The-Bright-Future-of-Long-Term-Care-with-Mike-Hensley---Provider-Interview/QA%20Applications%202022.png" alt="QA Applications 2022.png" style="margin:5px;width:571px;" /></a><br><br></div>
2022 Silver National Quality Award Recipients Announcedhttps://publish.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/2022-Silver-National-Quality-Award-Recipients-Announced.aspx2022 Silver National Quality Award Recipients Announced6/24/2022 4:00:00 AM<div>​​The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) announced today the names of the 46 recipients of the 2022 <em>Silver – Achievement in Quality Award</em>. <br></div><div><br></div><div>This year, 40 skilled nursing care centers, 3 assisted living communities, and 3 skilled nursing/ assisted living providers in 24 states and the District of Columbia achieved the Silver Award.</div><div><br></div><div>A complete list of the 2022 Silver recipients is available on the AHCA/NCAL Quality Award website.<br></div><div><br></div><div style="text-align:center;"><strong><a href="/Quality/National-Quality-Award-Program/Pages/QualityAwardRecipients.aspx" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank">VIEW 2022 SILVER AWARD​ RECIPIENTS!</a></strong><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Silver Award is the second of three distinctions possible through the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program, which recognizes providers across the nation that have demonstrated improved quality outcomes for staff, residents and individuals with disabilities in long term and post-acute care. Each application is reviewed and judged against a set of nationally recognized standards for achieving excellence.</div><div><br></div><div>In May,  180 recipients of the 2022<em> Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award</em> were <a href="/Quality/National-Quality-Award-Program/Pages/QualityAwardRecipients.aspx" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank">announced​</a>. <span style="font-size:11pt;">On August 5, 2022, Gold Quality Award recipients will be announced.</span></div><div><br></div><div>The awards will be presented during AHCA/NCAL’s 73rd Convention & Expo in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 9-12, 2022.<br></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>​<a href="https://www.eventscribe.net/2022/AHCA/?utm_source=ahcancal_homepage&utm_medium=main_rotator&utm_campaign=rotator_convention&cm_ven=ExactTarget&cm_cat=2022+Silver+Quality+Awards+Announced&cm_pla=Marks+Memos+2022+List&cm_ite=https://www.eventscribe.net/2022/AHCA/?utm_source%3dahcancal_homepage%26utm_medium%3dmain_rotator%26utm_campaign%3drotator_convention&cm_lm=1133328106&cm_ainfo=&&&&&" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank">REGISTER TODAY​</a></strong><br></p><p>​A special thank you to this year's sponsors: First Quality, NRC Health, HealthCap, and MatrixCare​<br></p><p>​​<a href="/Quality/National-Quality-Award-Program/Pages/default.aspx" title=""" " target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://cl.exct.net/?qs%3Dda5a5615070a15f2e83ff2eb05d453585eb0aa8a1e91fe4fc67faea4b9eeb169f11eadab8fa1e6d654f785f9a5f9066b388b15c0c3c0df04&source=gmail&ust=1656175120999000&usg=AOvVaw1XEIs7JE3NNohUBtCMAwTl" data-feathr-click-track="true" style="color:#1155cc;font-family:roboto, robotodraft, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:small;text-align:center;background-color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><img src="/News-and-Communications/Blog/PublishingImages/Pages/2022-Silver-National-Quality-Award-Recipients-Announced/App%20image.png" alt="App image.png" style="margin:5px;" /></span></a><br><br></p>

 The Program

 Portal Opens Sept. 15

 Questions?
Contact the Quality Award team with any questions.

Submit your intent to apply by logging​ into the Po​rtal.​ ​


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​Quality Award Survey Requirements

These survey requirements resources provide applicants information on whether or not they currently meet the survey requirements to receive a Quality Award. A full description of the survey requirements at each level is available in the award level specific application packet.

 ‭(Hidden)‬ Get Started

 Learn About Baldrige

 Thank You To Our 2022 Sponsors


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