| 30 Years of National Quality Award Examiners Advancing Excellence | <p><img src="/Issues/2026/Summer/PublishingImages/QA_30years.jpg" alt="30 years" class="ms-rtePosition-1" style="margin:5px;" />For 30 years, the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program has challenged providers to strengthen systems, improve outcomes, and pursue excellence across long term and post-acute care. Since its establishment in 1996, the program has helped organizations at every stage of the quality journey build stronger processes rooted in continuous improvement.</p><p>Behind every application reviewed, every feedback report delivered, and every award recommended is a dedicated group of professionals who make the program possible: the National Quality Award examiners.</p><p>This group of more than 200 individuals volunteers their time and expertise over the course of several months to carefully review applications, assess performance against the Baldrige Performance Excellence criteria, and provide meaningful feedback that helps providers improve. For many, serving as an examiner is more than a volunteer experience—it is a professional development and leadership opportunity as well as a chance to help elevate the entire profession.</p><p>The examiner program is rigorous. Examiners complete training, work in teams, review multiple applications, participate in meetings and discussions, and produce detailed feedback reports for each applicant. For the Silver and Gold awards, teams are comprised of professionals from across the country—and even the world—with a range of backgrounds in long term care, quality improvement, operations, and leadership. Team leaders are selected based on experience and guide the review process, while Gold judges—a smaller panel of highly experienced experts—determine which applicants advance to site visits and ultimately achieve the Gold award.</p><p>The work is substantial, often spanning six months, but participants consistently describe the experience as one of the most valuable learning opportunities of their careers. Some even compare it to a mini-MBA program because of the depth of learning involved.</p><p>As AHCA/NCAL celebrates the 30-year anniversary of the National Quality Award Program, three long-time examiners offer a powerful view into what it means to be an examiner and what it offers beyond being an essential part of the program’s success.</p><h3>From Pilot Program to Pipeline</h3><p>For Silver examiner team leader Nicolette Reilly, Senior Vice President of Quality at the Oregon Health Care Association, the value of the examiner experience is clear.</p><p><img src="/Issues/2026/Summer/PublishingImages/QA2_sum26.jpg" class="ms-rtePosition-2" alt="Examiners" style="margin:5px;width:420px;height:315px;" />“Being part of this program has made me focus more on the quality journey not just for my organization, but in my own professional growth as well,” Reilly said. “That was training that I would have paid thousands and thousands of dollars for.”</p><p>Reilly, who has served as an examiner for nearly two decades, helped create an innovative pipeline for new examiners in Oregon. Recognizing that first-year examiners often need additional support, she launched a pilot program that brings together first-time examiners for a hands-on, in-person training. What began as one team has now expanded into multiple teams and introduced more than 14 new examiners to the program.<br>“We created a space where first-year examiners could learn, ask questions, and grow together,” Reilly said. “It’s grown into something special—we’re building a pipeline of quality leaders.”</p><p>The effort created a ripple effect. Participants return to their organizations with a stronger grasp of quality improvement, share best practices, and often become champions for the National Quality Award Program within their companies and across the state.</p><p>Reilly also emphasized the professional network that comes with being an examiner. Because examiners work in teams made up of leaders from across the country and from different disciplines, the experience creates valuable relationships and broadens participants’ understanding of the profession. </p><p>“You build relationships across the country—people you can call and say, ‘What do you think about this?’” she said. “There’s this incredible sharing of ideas, best practices, and real solutions. You end up with an entire network of people focused on getting better.”</p><p>In the end, Reilly’s efforts not only support examiners but also help to shape the future of quality in long term care.</p><h3>Reaching the Next Generation</h3><p>For <a href="/Video-Resources/ProviderTV/Pages/Defining-Value-Based-Care-Success.aspx" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank" title="WATCH: Defining Value-Based Care Success ">Samantha Vosloo,</a> Senior Director of Value-Based Care at PointClickCare and a Silver examiner team leader for more than a decade, the program has offered a front-row seat to what high-performing organizations look like in practice.</p><p>Vosloo first became involved in the National Quality Award Program while working as an administrator-in-training and helping write a Silver Award application. After seeing firsthand how the process strengthened organizations, she became an examiner and never looked back.</p><p>“What I love about being an examiner is that you get an inside peek into these high-performing organizations and see what process excellence looks like,” Vosloo said. “I was able to take those key learnings and bring them back into my building.”</p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="/Issues/2026/Summer/PublishingImages/QA1_sum26.jpg" alt="Examiners" style="margin:5px;width:400px;height:300px;" /> </p><p>That perspective shaped her leadership early in her career and continues to influence her work today. She credits the program with helping her better understand continuous improvement, develop stronger management skills, and learn how to identify issues and bring resolution.</p><p>“What Baldrige and the Quality Award teaches us to do is examine an issue and determine if that issue was a people issue or a process issue,” she said. “A lot of times, if we really take a step back, we find it was never a people issue—it was a process issue. That makes us better leaders.”</p><p>Vosloo is also helping build the next generation of Quality Award examiners. She has spearheaded a new partnership with the University of South Florida, where students in the university’s health care administration program learn the Baldrige framework in class and are then placed on Silver Award examiner teams to apply what they learned in real time.</p><p>She hopes that more future administrators enter the field already understanding what high performance, process improvement, and organizational excellence look like.</p><p>“Through this partnership, we’re helping them build those muscles before they even get out there into their career,” Vosloo said. “We’re graduating high-performing leaders who already know what it takes to run a good organization.”</p><p>The partnership currently has three students participating in the program.</p><h3>A Full-Circle Quality Journey</h3><p><span><img src="/Issues/2026/Summer/PublishingImages/QA_sum26.jpg" class="ms-rtePosition-2" alt="Examiners" style="margin:5px;width:275px;height:275px;" /></span>Few people have seen the National Quality Award Program from as many angles as <a href="/Video-Resources/Podcasts/Pages/What-It-Takes-to-Achieve-Quality-Excellence.aspx" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" title="LISTEN: What It Takes to Achieve Quality Excellence" target="_blank">Renee Ridling,</a> Executive Director of Gingerbread House, Inc. Over the years, Ridling has engaged with the program at nearly every level—as an applicant, award recipient, Silver examiner, Gold examiner, team leader, independent examiner, and now she has joined the elite group of eight Quality Award judges. A Gold Quality Award recipient herself, she has spent 17 years in the examiner program and says the experience shaped her both personally and professionally.</p><p>“We tell applicants all the time that quality is a journey,” Ridling said. “For myself, going from examiner through the process to judge has been a personal journey in learning not just about the Quality Award Program, but also about the concept of quality improvement and getting better.”</p><p>In 2014, Ridling became the first provider in Missouri to earn the Gold Award, a milestone she still carries with pride. In fact, she believes that one of the most meaningful parts of her examiner work has been helping other facilities achieve the same kind of progress.</p><p>“It’s fulfilling to have that impact—to know that something I said or something I shared in a feedback report may help another facility get to the next level,” she said. “Every year, when I watch the facilities I helped achieve their award, it’s very moving and very rewarding.”</p><p>Like many examiners, Ridling acknowledges that the program requires a significant investment of time, especially during the height of review season, but she is quick to emphasize that the investment is worth it.</p><p>“If you want to become better at your job…you won’t find a better way to become better at what you do,” she said. “This program helped me grow a lot.”</p><p>Reflecting on how far the journey has taken her, Ridling added, “When I wrote that first application in 2008, I had no idea that in 2026 I would be a judge for this program. I was just a facility in small-town Missouri. It’s one of the best learning experiences that you will ever have.”</p><h3>Celebrating 30 Years </h3><p><img src="/Issues/2026/Summer/PublishingImages/Cristina-Walls.jpg" alt="Cristina Walls" class="ms-rtePosition-2" style="margin:5px;" />As the National Quality Award Program celebrates 30 years, the examiner community remains one of its greatest strengths. Examiners bring expertise, champions, and passion to the Quality Award journey. They also bring a commitment to helping others improve.</p><p>For those considering becoming an examiner, the message from these longtime leaders is simple: do it! It is demanding and it takes time, but the return—for the individual, for their organization, and for long term care—is invaluable.</p><p>As the National Quality Award Program looks ahead to its next 30 years, it is the people behind it who will carry it forward and define its future.</p><p><em><strong>Cristina Walls</strong> is senior manager, public affairs at the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living.</em><br></p> | 2026-06-01T04:00:00Z | <img alt="Examiners" src="/Issues/2026/Summer/PublishingImages/QA_sum26.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | Quality Awards | Cristina Wells | Behind the scenes of the National Quality Award Program is a dedicated group of more than 200 volunteer examiners. |
| Starting Your Quality Award Journey? Two Things to Know. | <p style="text-align:center;"><img src="/Articles/PublishingImages/2025/awards.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:500px;height:262px;" /></p><p style="text-align:center;"><br></p><p><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US">Considering
applying for the 2026 Quality Award Program for the first time?
Congratulations—you're about to embark on a meaningful journey of
organizational learning and improvement! To help you get started, here
are two key steps to set yourself up for success.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p><div><h3><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> 1. Join the First-Time Applicant Hour</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":360,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></h3><p><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US">Begin
your application journey with confidence by attending the First-Time
Applicant Hour—an introductory webinar designed specifically for new
applicants.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US">In this session, you will:</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p><div><ul role="list"><li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem"><p><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US">Discover the structure and purpose of the Quality Award Program.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul role="list"><li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem"><p><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US">Learn how participating can help you reflect on and improve your organization’s processes.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul role="list"><li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem"><p><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US">Explore the key steps to begin your journey with clarity and confidence.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul role="list"><li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem"><p><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US">Engage in a live Q&A with program staff to get your questions answered directly.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p></li></ul></div><p><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}">Date:</span><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US"> September 25, 2025</span> <br><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US">Time:</span><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US"> 3PM EST</span> </p><h3><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US"></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> 2. Submit Your Intent to Apply</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></h3><p><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US">Show
your commitment to quality by submitting an Intent to Apply (ITA) for
the 2026 Quality Award. This step offers several benefits including:</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p><div><ul role="list"><li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem"><p><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US">Reduced application fee</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul role="list"><li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem"><p><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US">Access to exclusive Program resources</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p></li></ul></div></div><div><div><ul role="list"><li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem"><p><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US">Early engagement with the application process</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p></li></ul></div><p><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US">Submit
your ITA through the Quality Award Portal. For assistance submitting
your ITA in the Quality Award Portal, be sure to visit the </span><a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/Quality/National-Quality-Award-Program/Pages/Help-Documents.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"><span data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US"><span data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink">Quality Award Portal Resource Center</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US"> for helpful resources like a step-by-step </span><a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/Quality/National-Quality-Award-Program/Documents/Portal%20Help/Submitting%20a%20Payment.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"><span data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US"><span data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink">How to Submit an ITA</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US"> guide.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US"></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> Deadline:</span><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US"> November 13, 2025</span> <br><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US">Time:</span><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US"> 8PM ET</span> </p><p><a href="https://ahcancal.smartsimple.com/s_Login.jsp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"><span data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US"><span data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink">Visit the Portal today!</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US"></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p></div> | 2025-09-23T04:00:00Z | <img alt="" src="/Articles/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/quality-awards.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | Quality Awards | | Considering applying for the 2026 Quality Award Program for the first time? Congratulations—you're about to embark on a meaningful journey of organizational learning and improvement! |
| 2025 AHCA/NCAL Awards Program Honorees | <p>The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) pay tribute to the best and brightest in long term and post-acute care. Individuals and groups honored with awards will be recognized during Delivering Solutions 25, the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo in Las Vegas.</p><p><strong class="ms-rteForeColor-2">Alice Smith</strong><br><strong>Highland Park Care Center and Highland Park Assisted Living, Alliance, NE</strong><br><strong><em>AHCA Leader of the Year Award </em></strong><img src="/Issues/2024/Fall/PublishingImages/AliceSmith-awards.jpg" alt="Alice Smith" class="ms-rtePosition-2" style="margin:5px;" /></p><p>Alice Smith, the administrator of both Highland Park Care Center and Highland Park Assisted Living in Alliance, Neb., has been recognized as the AHCA Leader of the Year. This award honors a leader in a long term care facility who demonstrates outstanding innovation, achievement, and capabilities in providing high-quality, person-centered care.</p><p>Smith’s leadership ensures high-quality care for residents and fosters a supportive environment for her staff. Her genuine connection with residents and staff highlights her servant leadership style.Smith’s approach empowers staff to make decisions that prioritize resident care. This strategy has resulted in a high-performing team capable of creating enriching experiences for residents. Under her guidance, residents participate in activities such as riding motorcycles and in community parades, enhancing their quality of life.<br></p><p>Smith actively involves her facilities in community collaborations, partnering with local nonprofits and organizing various drives to support those in need. These initiatives integrate community involvement into residents’ daily lives and foster multigenerational connections.<br></p><p>During the COVID-19 pandemic, Smith adhered to stringent guidelines to ensure resident safety, worked in various departments, and obtained her nursing assistant certification to better assist the nursing staff. She also fundraised for adaptive bikes, allowing residents to safely enjoy outdoor activities.<br></p><p>Smith’s achievements include leading Highland Park Care Center to earn the 2024 Silver Quality Award and Highland Park Assisted Living to earn the 2024 Bronze Quality Award. Her dedication to enhancing the quality of life for residents, combined with her adherence to the facility’s mission, vision, and values, underscores her deservingness of this award.</p><p><strong class="ms-rteForeColor-2">Ami A. Mendez</strong><br><strong>Avista Senior Living North Mountain, Phoenix, AZ</strong><br><strong><em>NCAL Leader of the Year</em></strong><img src="/Issues/2024/Fall/PublishingImages/AmiMendez-awards.jpg" alt="Ami Mendez" class="ms-rtePosition-2" style="margin:5px;" /></p><p>NCAL recognizes extraordinary leaders in assisted living who exemplify excellence, dedication, and innovation. This year’s NCAL Leader of the Year Award goes to Ami A. Mendez, whose impact on her community and facility is profound.<br></p><p>Mendez, a certified nursing home administrator and assisted living manager, has set a remarkable standard of care over her nine-year tenure at Avista Senior Living North Mountain in Phoenix, Ariz. Her leadership has fostered a high-performing team that recently achieved a perfect score on its deficiency-free annual survey and was awarded the 2024 National Bronze Quality Award by AHCA/NCAL. <br></p><p>Mendez’s commitment to addressing the needs of an often-marginalized, elderly population who relies on Medicaid is evident through the specialized programs she has developed. Under her guidance, the community has become a beacon of hope for low-income seniors.</p><p>Mendez serves a dual role within her company, which has grown from three to thirty communities and in six states during her tenure. She is responsible for the daily operations of the 149-bed assisted living facility and is also a key player on the company’s executive team. Saving the company thousands of dollars, she has a unique skill set that allows her to customize the company’s electronic health record by building more satisfying, digestible, and efficient tools for caregivers and med techs. She is also responsible for writing network-wide policy and answering compliance-related and other questions from other assisted living managers. Through 33 years of experience, her ability to provide resources to her peers, company, and residents is unmatched. She has introduced and designed company-wide programs and risk-mitigating documentation tools. <br></p><p>Her dedication to ethical practices and protecting resident rights while simultaneously investing in the team is evident. She has embraced and implemented a leadership philosophy focusing on team members’ behavior toward others. She fondly calls this approach the “commitment to my coworker.” Aiming to create a fun, vibrant, safe, and trusting work environment, this approach sets expectations for newly hired team members.</p><p><strong class="ms-rteForeColor-2">Michelle Stuercke</strong><br><span><strong>Chief Clinical Officer, TCM Consulting and Management, Arlington Heights, IL</strong></span><br><strong><em>Mary K. Ousley Champion of Quality</em><br></strong></p><p><img src="/Issues/2025/Fall/PublishingImages/MichelleStuercke.jpg" class="ms-rtePosition-2" alt="Michelle Stuercke" style="margin:5px;" />Michelle Stuercke has been selected to receive the 2025 Mary K. Ousley Champion of Quality Award by AHCA. The Mary K. Ousley Champion of Quality Award honors individuals who have significantly advanced quality performance in long term and post-acute care.</p><p></p><p>Stuercke is a member of the AHCA Clinical Practice Committee and has chaired the AHCA Falls Sub-Committee, creating evidence-based tools to reduce fall rates and enhance resident safety across diverse care settings. Currently, she co-leads AHCA's Behavior Management Sub-Committee, advancing non-pharmacological strategies for behavior management and reducing unnecessary antipsychotic use. Stuercke has also served as an examiner for the AHCA/NCAL Quality Awards for the last seven years.</p><p>Stuercke has made a national impact on the long term and post-acute care profession through spearheading education initiatives to elevate the role of behavioral health in improving resident outcomes through person-centered care. She has led training on reducing staff burnout and supporting staff mental health, providing practical tools to sustain high-quality care in high-stress environments.</p><p>Stuerke has advocated for policies that integrate behavioral health into quality frameworks, bridging clinical care with emotional and psychological well-being. Currently, she serves as an expert panelist for the United States Cost of Dementia Model: Quantifying Current and Future Impacts of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias funded by the National Institute on Aging.</p><p>On the state level, Stuercke has championed policy reforms in Illinois, working with others, including HCCI, the Illinois state affiliate of AHCA/NCAL of which TCM Management is a member, to achieve the inclusion of a quality add-on in the Medicaid reimbursement system. In addition to being a registered nurse, Stuercke is a licensed nursing home administrator and QAPI-certified practitioner. She earned her Bachelor's of Science in Nursing from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, her Master's in Public Health degree from Roosevelt University, and Doctorate in Geriatric Nursing from Rush University.</p><p><strong class="ms-rteForeColor-2">Dr. Christian Mason</strong><br><strong>CEO, Senior Housing Managers, Wilsonville, OR</strong><br><strong><em>Jan Thayer Pioneer Award</em><br></strong></p><p><img src="/Issues/2025/Fall/PublishingImages/ChrisMason.jpg" alt="Dr. Christian Mason" class="ms-rtePosition-2" style="margin:5px;" />Dr. Christian A. Mason, PhD, a recognized leader in senior care, has been awarded the 2025 Jan Thayer Pioneer Award by NCAL. For 40 years, Dr. Mason has dedicated himself to propelling the profession into a new era of excellence and innovation. <br></p><p>The Jan Thayer Pioneer Award honors individuals who have significantly advanced the senior care profession. This award recognizes dedication, leadership, and impactful contributions—qualities that Dr. Mason exemplifies.<br></p><p>Dr. Mason has demonstrated a passion for enhancing the lives of seniors. As CEO of Senior Housing Managers, he led the design, development, and operation of hundreds of assisted living, residential care, and independent living communities, focusing on creating environments that prioritize resident comfort and dignity.<br></p><p>From 2015-2017, Dr. Mason served as chairman of the National Center for Assisted Living’s board of directors, driving the development of resources for assisted living providers that supported quality initiatives, navigating state regulations and access to data. He served for over 20 years on the Oregon Health Care Association board, significantly advancing the state’s long term care initiatives.<br></p><p>In 2013, he played a pivotal role in establishing new residential care building standards through the Facility Guidelines Institute, significantly enhancing the quality and safety of long term care facilities. Dr. Mason’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to found Vigilan, Inc., a software company dedicated to integrating advanced technology solutions into long term care operations. Vigilan pioneered the use of acuity-based staffing, a model that assesses patient needs more accurately and allocates resources accordingly.<br></p><p>Dr. Mason is at the forefront of innovative care with his work on CloudMind, which is currently rolling out its second pilot program. This initiative uses artificial intelligence companions to interact with memory care residents, increasing companionship and enriching the overall care experience for residents, caregivers, and families alike. <br></p><p>Dr. Mason’s forward-thinking innovations, influential role as a national advocate, and unwavering dedication to championing person-centered care have made a lasting impact on the senior care profession.</p><p><strong class="ms-rteForeColor-2">Jayden Chandler</strong><br><strong>Rock Creek of Ottawa, Ottawa, KS</strong><br><strong><em>NCAL Noble Caregiver </em></strong><br></p><p><img src="/Issues/2024/Fall/PublishingImages/JaydenChandler-awards.jpg" alt="Jayden Chandler" class="ms-rtePosition-2" style="margin:5px;" />Jayden Chandler, a caregiver from Rock Creek of Ottawa in Ottawa, Kans., has been honored with the Noble Caregiver Award by NCAL. This award recognizes frontline caregivers who significantly improve the quality of life for residents and create a better work environment for staff.<br></p><p>Chandler’s compassion and dedication are evident in her daily interactions, as she ensures each resident feels at home with individualized care.<br></p><p>Her problem-solving skills, particularly in dementia care, have improved residents’ daily lives. Chandler engages residents through activities they enjoy and maintains a positive attitude, even on challenging days. <br></p><p>Beyond her scheduled work hours, Chandler dedicates her time to assist with activities. She also volunteers at an animal shelter and brings pets into the facility to help soothe residents and address behavioral challenges.<br>Chandler has completed abilities expert training, specializing in dementia care, and has become the abilities care champion for her facility. In this role, she trains staff on various levels of dementia, ensuring comprehensive resident care.<br></p><p>Additionally, Chandler is pursuing further education in nursing with a focus on gerontology. She plays a vital role in training new staff, ensuring they understand residents’ specific needs and care tasks. <br></p><p>Chandler’s commitment to person-centered care and improving residents’ lives has enhanced residents’ quality of life and strengthened her facility’s community, making her a deserving recipient of this award.</p><p><strong class="ms-rteForeColor-2">Rick Baldini</strong><br><strong>Waters Edge Health & Rehabilitation, Kenosha, WI</strong><br><strong><em>AHCA Noble Caregiver </em></strong></p><p><img src="/Issues/2024/Fall/PublishingImages/RickBaldini-awards.jpg" alt="Rick Baldini" class="ms-rtePosition-2" style="margin:5px;" />AHCA’s Noble Caregiver Award recognizes frontline staff for their contributions to improving residents’ quality of life and creating a better work environment. Rick Baldini, the maintenance director at Waters Edge Health & Rehabilitation in Kenosha, Wis., exemplifies exceptional dedication and person-centered care.<br></p><p>Baldini enhances the well-being of residents and overall morale at Waters Edge. His interactions go beyond routine maintenance tasks; he engages with residents personally, understanding their needs and preferences. His involvement in facility activities, such as fundraising events, demonstrates his commitment to fostering a supportive community.<br></p><p>Baldini’s commitment to residents’ quality of life is evident in his prompt attention to maintenance needs, even beyond regular hours. He proactively identifies and resolves issues, ensuring a well-maintained facility.<br></p><p>By maintaining and repairing essential equipment like mobility aids and beds, Baldini empowers residents to live as independently as possible. Baldini’s versatility is further demonstrated by his willingness to assist with tasks outside his typical responsibilities.<br></p><p>Additionally, Baldini’s proactive problem-solving and support for new staff members contribute significantly to the facility’s smooth operations.<br></p><p>Baldini’s dedication to improving residents’ quality of life, positive attitude, and unwavering commitment make him a standout caregiver in the long term care community.<br></p> | 2025-09-09T04:00:00Z | <img alt="AHCA/NCAL" src="/SiteCollectionImages/logos/ahcancal_740.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | Quality Awards | | The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) pay tribute to the best and brightest in long term and post-acute care. |
| Behind the Program | <p>AHCA/NCAL applauds the hard work of the <a href="/Issues/2025/Fall/Documents/Exam%20Judge%20PrvFall25.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="60b7cbf17788425491b2d083" target="_blank">2025 National Quality Award Examiners, Judges, and Board</a> for their time and dedication to improving long term care through the Quality Award journey. <br></p><p><strong>Thank You to Our Sponsors</strong><br>The National Quality Award Program is proudly sponsored by AHCA/NCAL Associate Business Members: </p><p><img src="/Issues/2025/Fall/PublishingImages/QA%20sponsors.png" alt="sponsors" style="margin:5px;" /><br></p><table cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="ms-rteTable-0 "><tbody><tr class="ms-rteTableEvenRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:33.3333%;"><strong>Silver and Gold Examiners</strong><br>Alana Wolfe<br>Alex McVay<br>Alice Lewis<br>Allan Engelauf<br>Alycia Taylor<br>Amy Fann<br>Amy Malkin<br>Amy Skelton<br>Andrea Jersey<br>Andria Coleman<br>Angel Normandin<br>Angie Barr<br>Anna Fisher<br>Ashley Walters<br>Atif Baig<br>Billie Wingfield<br>Breanna Gregory<br>Brenda Irlbeck<br>Brian Bailey<br>Brian Lassiter<br>Brielle Khalar<br>Brodey Hanson<br>Brooke Francis<br>Cameron Krause<br>Carl Mason<br>Cassy Mittlieder<br>Catherine Craver<br>Cathy Bergland <br>Cathy Sunlin<br>Cheryl Cooper<br>Chris Fisher<br>Chris Wessling<br>Chrisi Karcz<br>Cindy Krull-Williams<br>Cindy Morris<br>Claire Houghton<br>Dahlia Kroth<br>Danielle Yenuganti<br>David Bronner<br>David Miller<br>Deborah Bisel<br>Deborah Manzo<br>Deborah Wentz<br>Debra Durbin<br>Denise Ogden<br>Derek Marchand<br>Emily Buckles<br>Emma Sullivan<br>Etan Bleichman<br>Felina Imperio<br>Gary Floss<br>Grace Denstad<br>Gregory Leoce<br>Heather Haberhern<br>Heather Herlyn<br>Jack Ellison<br>Jacqueline Vance<br>James Gordon<br>James Krob<br>Jamie Anthony<br>Janean Kinzie<br>Janeen Earwood<br>Jeff Calhoun<br>Jennifer Leatherbarrow<br>Jennifer Peters<br>Jennifer Sundstrom<br>Jennifer Svoboda<br>Jerome Flores<br>Jill Snow<br>Joan Woods<br>JoAnn Sternke<br>Jodee Ewbank<br><span>John Van Gorkom<br>Jolie Harris<br>Jordan Turner<br>Kaitlin Clegg<br>Karen Donorfio<br>Karen Powell<br>Katherine (Kathy) Holland</span></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" style="width:33.3333%;">Kathy Jenson<br>Katrina Harris<br>Kelly Smith<br>Kendra Ferrero<br>Kenneth Thompson<br>Kevin Deats<br>Kevin Grayson<br>Kiara Tuchscherer<br>Kimberly Gimmarro<br>Kristen Schmidt<br>Kristen Thrun<br>Lakecia Thomas<br>Lassie Pappas<br>Leigh Atherton<br>Libby Faffler<br>Linda McGowan<br>Linda Winston<br>Liz Wondersek<br>Lori Cooper<br>Lynn Carpenter<br>Lynn Goldman<br>Maelondy Holman<br>Maggie Hilty<br>Margaret Eggleston<br>Margo Paplow<br>Maria Wong<br>Marianna Grachek<br>Mary Kay Johnston<br>Mary Martin<br>MaryPat Carhart<br>Maureen Brown<br>Maureen Carland<br>Megan Anderson<br>Megan Corcoran<br>Meghann Giarraputo<br>Melanie Hatch<br>Melissa McCorquodale<br>Michelle Stuercke<br>Miriam Kmetzo<br>Misty Linder <br>Natashia Mason<br>Nicolette Reilly<br>Nusrat Khan<br>Paul Grizzell<br>Phillip Donnelly<br>Racey Gasior<br>Rachelle Oliverson<br>Ralph Peterson<br>Raymond Bouchard<br>Rebecca Evans<br>Rebecca Gagnon<br>Renee Ridling<br>Robert Humrickhouse<br>Robin Nicholson<br>Rosemary McLaughlin<br>Samantha Vosloo<br>Sandra Sarza<br>Sara Sutherland<br>Sarah Miller<br>Sean Oswald<br>Shauna Kapsner<br>Stan Butkus<br>Steve George<br>Suresh Nirody<br>Tamara Lund<br>Tammi Cooper<br>Tammy Cassidy<br>Tammy Kelly<br>Tarrah Quinlan<br>Teresa Creedon<br>Tom Boyes<br>Tracy Connor<br>Trinna Kirkland<br>Veronica Ceaser<br>Voravuth Chengsupanimit<br>Wendy Meinert<br>Wendy Ness<br>Wendy Walter<br>Zach Ziesemer <br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:33.3333%;"><span><span><strong>Board</strong><br>Andrea Aston<br>Cathy Bergland<br>Cathy Sunlin<br>Christopher Laxton<br>Dahlia Kroth<br>Emily Buckles<br>Heather Herlyn<br>James Gordon<br>Maureen Carland<br>Megan Corcoran<br>Paul Grizzell<br>Shauna Kapsner<br><br><strong>Gold Judges</strong><br>Brian Lassiter<br>Cathy Bergland<br>Gary Floss<br>Jeff Calhoun<br>Kevin Deats<br>Maryruth Butler<br>Paul Grizzell<br>Renee Ridling<br>Steve George <br><br><br></span></span></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableOddRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:33.3333%;"></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:33.3333%;"></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:33.3333%;"></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableFooterRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableFooterEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:33.3333%;"><br></td><td class="ms-rteTableFooterOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:33.3333%;"><br></td><td class="ms-rteTableFooterEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:33.3333%;"><br></td></tr></tbody></table> | 2025-09-09T04:00:00Z | <img alt="Quality Awards" src="/Articles/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/GoldSilver.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | Quality Awards | | AHCA/NCAL applauds the hard work of the 2025
National Quality Award Examiners, Judges, and Board for their time and dedication to improving long term care through the Quality Award journey. |