AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award
The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) National Quality Award Program provides a pathway for providers of long-term services to journey toward performance excellence. It is a progressive program that is based on the Baldrige Excellence Framework. This nationally recognized approach to performance excellence focuses on systems-based quality improvement to create sustained levels of performance over time in the areas of leadership, strategic planning, customer and workforce, operations, and knowledge management.
long-term care centers that are members of HCANJ may apply for three progressive levels of awards, each with its own distinct rigors and requiring a more detailed demonstration of superior performance. These member centers are nationally recognized for achieving each award level, eventually joining the ranks of the best in long-term care.
Level 1: Bronze Award – Commitment to Quality
The goal of this award level is to provide applicants with the tools and resources they need to achieve performance improvement.
Level 2: Silver Award – Achievement in Quality
At this level, applicants continue to learn and develop effective approaches that help improve performance and health care outcomes.
Level 3: Gold Award – Excellence in Quality
At this level, applicants must show superior performance in all areas of the criteria including leadership, strategic planning, and customer and staff satisfaction.
Applications are judged by trained Examiners who provide feedback on opportunities for improvement to support continuous learning.
HCANJ National Quality Award facilities are listed HERE and are indicated in our Facility Locator with “BQA,” “SQA,” or “GQA” according to the highest award achieved.
For further information on the National Quality Award, please visit the National Quality Award Program site.