BECOMING AN AHCA/NCAL NATIONAL QUALITY AWARD EXAMINER
Background
The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award program began in 1996. Its mission is to support quality improvement in AHCA/NCAL member long term care organizations by promoting quality awareness and best practices, and by recognizing significant achievements in quality improvement. The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award is a distinction given to AHCA/NCAL member organizations that are able to meet criteria of systematic quality improvement. By following the series of developmental steps that make up the award process, organizations gain knowledge and skills to help them better serve their customers and, in doing so, better position themselves in an increasingly demanding and competitive environment. This systematic foundation for quality improvement moves the profession toward higher rates of customer satisfaction, continued improvement in compliance with regulations, higher financial integrity, improvement in clinical outcomes, and a more stable staff.
Application Levels
AHCA/NCAL’s National Quality Award is modeled after criteria from the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, which is the nation’s premier recognition for quality achievement. The Quality Award is designed to support continuous quality improvement efforts in the long term care profession by promoting quality awareness and education, and to recognize special achievements.
The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program was designed as a progressive three-step program to encourage continuous learning and development of integrated, quality systems to achieve performance excellence. Organizations are able to apply for recognition and awards at three levels, each of which requires a more detailed and comprehensive demonstration of quality integration and performance. There is no pre-determined number of awards given each year. All applicants that are deemed to have met the demands of the criteria of the level at which they apply will receive the award at that level.
Bronze – Commitment to Quality - At this level, applicants describe their mission, characteristics, and key challenges, which are embodied in the Organizational Profile of the Baldrige criteria. The objective of this step is to provide a context for understanding the organization and its approach to performance improvement.
Silver – Achievement in Quality - At this level, organizations that have previously received a Bronze award will address the seven Baldrige Categories and the fifteen basic item requirements within these categories along with an updated Organizational Profile. Applicants describe the approaches they systematically use, how they deploy these approaches, how the organizations learn for continual improvement and how approaches are integrated. The Silver level award is a critical learning step for applicants.
Gold – Excellence in Quality - At this level, organizations that have previously received the Silver award address the Baldrige Health Care Criteria for Performance Excellence in its entirety. The objective of this step is to demonstrate superior performance in health care, customer satisfaction, financial, market, workforce, process, and leadership outcomes over time.
National Quality Award Examiners
Silver and Gold applications are reviewed by Senior Examiners and Master Examiners, respectively. Based on their evaluation, every applicant receives a feedback report identifying strengths as well as areas for improvement. Awards are given based on the recommendations of the examiners. AHCA/NCAL welcomes Senior and Master Examiner applicants with experience in the application of systematic quality improvement from both within and outside the long term care profession. The following is a briefing of duties for Senior Examiners and Master Examiners. Team compositions and review processes are subject to change:
- Senior Examiners: Senior Examiners work on a four person Examiner team. Each team reviews seven to nine 18-page Silver applications, complete comprehensive feedback reports for each application, and recommend applicants for the Silver award.
- Master Examiners: Master Examiners work on a three person Examiner team. Each team reviews four to five 55-page Gold applications, complete comprehensive feedback reports for each application, and recommend applicants for the Gold award. Master Examiners may also be asked to conduct a site visit to a recommended Gold facility to verify systems and performance.
Please note that we do not recruit for Bronze Examiners. Bronze applications are reviewed by a small number of highly trained Examiners who are hired by AHCA/NCAL for this purpose alone.
Time Commitment
The review process requires a significant investment of time. Applicants must secure support from the leadership of their organization before applying to become an Examiner. Applicants must be prepared to make the following time commitments:
- Participate in webinar-based Examiner training sessions typically lasting a total of four to six hours (note: webinars are recorded and can be accessed at any time).
- Team leaders must also commit to participating in a one to two day onsite training session (date and location TBD).
- Participate in weekly conference calls with Examiner team during the 10-week review period.
- Complete assigned review work during 10-week review period. Examiners estimate eight to ten hours per application (each team is assigned seven to nine applications).
- Participate in the four day on-site review session scheduled from June 11, 2012 to June 14, 2012 (location TBD).
Selection Process
Returning Examiners are selected each year based on previous service. The evaluation process for returning Examiners relies on general impressions of competence, understanding of the criteria, ability to work as a team member, honoring guidelines and timelines, quality of feedback reports, and overall commitment to the program.
Senior Examiners are selected from those who response to an open application process. Senior Examiners are chosen based on expertise in the quality discipline, success in leadership of award-recipient organizations, interest in systematic quality improvement, and other salient factors.
Master Examiners are selected from Gold recipient facilities, from recommendations by current Master Examiners and highly experienced Senior Examiners. Additionally, individuals with review experience with other Baldrige-based award programs are considered. All Examiners must have access to private email and be proficient in the use of Microsoft Word.
Code of Ethical Standards
Examiners are expected to uphold the Quality Award Examiner Conditions of Involvement and Code of Ethical Standards. All Examiner applicants must read the this document prior to submitting an application. Click to review document
Electronic Application Form
Please click here to access the 2012 Senior and Master Examiner Application.
We currently have a full list of new Examiners for the 2012 program. However, we still encourage you to submit an application. We will add you to the alternate list and call on you if a spot opens up.
Student Examiners
If you are an undergraduate or graduate student and applying to serve as an Examiner, please complete the 2012 Student Examiner Application form.
Questions?
Contact Courtney Krier at ckrier@ahca.org.