PLAZA HEALTHCARE AWARDED BRONZE AWARD

Plaza Healthcare has been recognized with a 2015 Bronze - Commitment to Quality Award by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). Plaza is one of two skilled nursing facilities to receive this award in the State of Arizona. The award is the first of three distinctions possible through the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program, which honors long term and post-acute care centers that have demonstrated their commitment to improving quality care for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

“It’s gratifying to see these providers recognized for their commitment to improving quality care,” said AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Board of Overseers Chair Christine Boldt. “At this level, Bronze recipients are positioned to achieve even better health and organizational outcomes. I applaud and encourage this year’s recipients to continue their quality journeys.”

Implemented by AHCA/NCAL in 1996, the National Quality Award Program is centered on the core values and criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program. The program assists providers of long term and post-acute care services in achieving their performance excellence goals.

The program has three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Centers begin the quality improvement process at the Bronze level, where they develop an organizational profile with fundamental performance elements such as vision and mission statements and an assessment of customers’ expectations. Bronze applicants must also demonstrate their ability to implement a performance improvement system. Trained Examiners review each Bronze application to determine if the center has met the demands of the criteria. Centers may now move forward in developing approaches and achieving performance levels that meet the criteria required for the Silver - Achievement in Quality Award. A full list of the recipients is available on the AHCA/NCAL website.

The recipient centers will be honored during the AHCA/NCAL’s 66th Annual Convention and Exposition, October 4-7, 2015, in San Antonio, Texas.

Plaza Healthcare plans to submit their application for the Silver Award in 2016.

ABOUT AHCA/NCAL The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) represent more than 12,000 non-profit and proprietary skilled nursing centers, assisted living communities, sub-acute centers and homes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. By delivering solutions for quality care, AHCA/NCAL aims to improve the lives of the millions of frail, elderly and individuals with disabilities who receive long term or post-acute care in our member facilities each day. For more information, please visit www.ahca.org or www.ncal.org.