National Quality Award Program

​National Quality Award Intent to Apply Now Closed

Intent to Apply is now closed. We encourage applicants who plan to apply for a National Quality Award in 2025 to countinue to work on applications and submit​ them before the deadline on Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 8 PM ET.  

Need help? Visit our help ​page​ or email us!

Be sure to review educational materials across all award levels to help you on the path to success.

For more resources, scroll down. ​​​

2025 Program Dates

  • ​Application Packets and Criteria Series Available: July 9, 2024
  • Intent to Apply and Portal Opens: August 2024
  • Intent to Apply Deadline: November 14, 2024, at 8 p.m. EST
  • Application and Payment Deadline: January 23, 2025, at 8 p.m. EST

‭(Hidden)‬ 2024 Notification Dates

We are a few months away from announcing our 2024 National Quality Award recipients!​ Mark these dates on your calendar and stay tuned for more program updates.​
  • Bronze: Thursday, May 30
  • Silver: Thursday, June 27​
  • Gold: Friday, August 9

Quality Award Stories

Explore our Quality Award Stories website​ and discover remarkable achievements in long term care. Share your Quality Award journey and showcase how it has elevated your organization’s standards and outcomes. Your story could inspire others and be featured in our national communications, highlighting your commitment to excellence. Submit your story today to join a network of dedicated providers striving for continuous improvement. Be inspired by your peers and contribute to a legacy of outstanding care.


​The Award Levels

Bronze Award

qaward_24bronze.pngAbout 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 improvement 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 [email protected]


Bronze Application & Resources

Essential Resources
Supporting Resources

‭(Hidden)‬ 2021 Bronze Key Dates

Notification
June 3, 2021

Silver Award

qaward_24silver.pngAbout 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 [email protected]

Silver Application & Resources

Essential Resources
Supporting Documents
Supporting Documents for Assisted Living

‭(Hidden)‬ 2021 Silver Key Dates

Notification
June 24, 2021

Gold Award

qaward_24gold.pngAbout 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 [email protected]

​Gold Award Spotlight

2024​ 

2023​ 

2022 

2021 
2020 

Gold Application & Resources

Essential Resources
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 for your organization and your workforce.​
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