Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea – Hidden Creek Assisted Living has been recognized as a 2016 recipient of the Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award for its dedication to improving the lives of residents through quality care.

The award is the first of three distinctions possible through the National Quality Award Program, presented by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living, the leading association for long term and post-acute care.

The program honors providers across the nation that have demonstrated their commitment to improving quality of care for seniors and persons with disabilities.

“It’s an honor to be recognized for the hard work and quality of care our team provides everyday,” Licensed Nursing Home Administrator and Campus Administrator Katie Davis said. “We are committed to providing high-quality, person-centered care to our residents and their families.”

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, which is the foundation of the metric-based AHCA/NCAL Quality Initiative. The program assists providers of long term and post-acute care services in achieving their performance excellence goals.

According to a press release, he program has three levels, bronze, silver and gold. Providers begin the quality improvement process at the bronze level, where they develop an organizational profile with essential 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.

As a recipient of the bronze Commitment to Quality award, Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea – Hidden Creek Assisted Living may now move forward in developing approaches and achieving performance levels that meet the criteria required for the silver Achievement in Quality award.

“I applaud the women and men of Good Samaritan Society – Hidden Creek Assisted Living for their commitment to improve quality care,” the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Board of Overseers chairwoman Christine Boldt said. “This award is the first step in a program that serves as an essential guide to performance excellence.”

The awards will be presented during AHCA/NCAL’s 67th Annual Convention and Exposition Oct. 16 through Oct. 19 in Nashville, Tennesee.