Events Calendar

Flyer | Registration

These sessions are offered at no cost to VHCA-VCAL members, but space is limited to 25 participants for each session. Lunch will be provided.

Overview

Join us for the Bronze or Silver training session to learn more about the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program, which recognizes long term and post-acute care organizations across the nation for quality. The program has three levels of awards: Bronze – Commitment to Quality, Silver -Achievement in Quality, and Gold – Excellence in Quality. Each sets progressively higher standards for performance. By moving through the three award levels, organizations will improve the quality of the care and services they provide.

Bronze Quality Award Training and Writing Workshop | October 10, 2023 | 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

This session will introduce you to the awards program and explain how committing to the application process can provide you a leadership framework for operational success for years to come. The Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award is the first step in the National Quality Award Program as well as the door to developing a new perspective on organizational excellence specific to long term care. Participants will understand and begin to apply the Bronze criteria and program policies in an interactive session with onsite trainers, review AHCA/NCAL training videos and resources, and have time to initiate and work on each section of the criteria.

Participants should familiarize themselves with the 2024 Bronze Quality Award Criteria prior to the workshop to have a general understanding of the topics and to gain the most benefit from the session. Please bring a copy of the 2024 Bronze Award Criteria Packet to the workshop with you and something to write draft responses on.

Silver Quality Award: Understanding the Criteria & Getting Started | October 11, 2023 | 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

After the success of achieving a Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award, the journey to excellence continues through the Silver – Achievement in Quality application process. Participants will understand the Silver criteria and begin to develop the framework for interpreting the criteria to begin crafting a successful application. The workshop will be led by individuals who are experienced examiners for the award program; they will use approved AHCA/NCAL videos and resources. Trainers will highlight updates to this year’s criteria, share constructive advice and pitfalls to avoid when writing a Silver application, and how to follow program policies to submit an application.

Participants should familiarize themselves with the 2024 Silver Quality Award Criteria prior to the workshop to have a general understanding of the topics to gain the most benefit from the session. Please bring a copy of the 2024 Silver Award Criteria Packet with you to the workshop and something to write draft responses on.

Trainers/Facilitators

• Wendy M. Walter, MA, LNHA | Regional Director of Operations | CCR
• Tammy Q. Kelly, PT, LNHA, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA | RAI Director | CCR

VHCA-VCAL members Wendy Walter and Tammy Kelly have both served as Silver Examiners for the AHCA/NCAL Quality Awards Program for many years and will lead these workshops. Kelly has also served as a Gold Award Site Examiner and is the immediate past Chair of the AHCA/NCAL Quality Award Board of Overseers, served on the AHCA/NCAL Quality Cabinet and currently serves on the AHCA Quality Improvement Committee.

What’s the value in applying for an AHCA/NCAL Quality Award?

Check out these great reasons!

•  Performance Improvement: The program provides a proven framework that organizations can use to make improvements in any clinical, quality, or other operational outcome area. Ninety percent of applicants identify performance improvement as a main reason in applying for an award.
• Leadership Growth: The criteria provide an excellent framework for leadership growth and training within your senior leadership team. Leaders who have participated in the Quality Award application journey report transformational changes in their leadership skills.
• Superior Outcomes: Research shows that Silver and Gold recipients have superior performance in key quality outcome areas such as 30-day hospital readmission, off-label use of antipsychotics, Five-Star ratings, occupancy rate and operating margin.
• Regulatory Demands: The program criteria prepare providers for regulatory demands such as CMS’s QAPI requirements and the Requirements of Participation.
• Team Engagement: Bring your team together for one common goal. The application process serves as a team building activity to engage staff across all levels of your organization.
• Esteemed Recognition: The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award provides national, external validation of high quality care and services – the perfect information to share with your consumers, stakeholders, and referral partners.

Registration Deadline

October 3, 2023