National Quality Award Program

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​THE 2022 APPLICATION YEAR IS UNDERWAY! ​

Keep working on your Bronze, Silver or Gold applicat​ion in the Portal an​d plan to submit it before the deadline on January 27, 2022.


 Dates to Know
  • January 27, 2022 (by 8 p.m. ​EST) – Application deadline​ ​
  • Summer 2022 – Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award notifications​​​​

 DOWNLOAD: Essential Resources For Applicants
These resources will help finalize ​your application!

  1. ​Month-by-Month Action Plan & Key Dates - Bronze, Silver​, Gold
    • Description: ​A month-by-month break down of where applicants should be in the application process.​
  2. Criteria Video Series - Bronze, Silver​, Gold
    • ​Description: Short videos, each covering an individual question or category in the Criteria to help applicants work through the application. 
  3. Quality Award Survey Requirements​ ​​
    • Description: These survey requirements provide SNF applicants information on whether 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 application packet. ​
  4. Silver and Gold Scoring Calibration Guidelines 
    • ​Description: ​​​Only for Silver and Gold applicants, the scoring guidelines are tools that Examiners utilize to score the applications. Applicants can use these to understand the demands of the various scoring ranges.​
All of these resources including application packets are available below.​

 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.​
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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
  • Potential Assisted Living Data Sources
    This resource is a list of potential data sources that Assisted Living providers may utilize to get comparative data.
  • Sample Silver Assisted Living Category 7 Results
    This resource is intended for assisted living applicants to help in identifying measures and comparisons. For complete guidelines on reporting results, applicants must review the guidelines for responding to results items and the comparative data statement available in the Silver application packet.

 ‭(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:​ ​​​

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 Gold Application & Resources
Essential Resources
  • Month-By-Month Action Plan & Key Dates
  • 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
  • Potential Assisted Living Data Sources
    This resource is a list of potential data sources that Assisted Living providers may utilize to get comparative data.
  • Sample Gold Assisted Living Category 7 Results
    This resource is intended for assisted living applicants to help in identifying measures and comparisons. For complete guidelines on reporting results, applicants must review the guidelines for responding to results items and the comparative data statement available in the Gold application packet.

 ‭(Hidden)‬ 2021 Gold Key Dates

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

 Application Portal

​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.

 Questions?
Contact the Quality Award team with any questions.

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