HCAM Awards
HCAM has a robust awards and recognition program. Nominating a team or individual is a great way to show your appreciation for their dedication. Please take a moment to share their stories.
HCAM members are eligible for the following awards:
Gerry Baker Hero of Healthcare
Named for HCAM’s past board president, the Gerry Baker Hero Award recognizes and celebrates those in the profession whose commitment to residents and co-workers goes above and beyond the already high standard long-term care workers set every day. Gerry championed Michigan’s long-term care industry for several decades, eventually serving nationally on the American Health Care Association board, working his way up to chairman in 1999.
The Gerry Baker Hero Award will honor dedicated individuals who perform their jobs in an exceptional manner. Nominees should be individuals who come to work each day to improve residents’ lives, always making a positive difference. Any LTC position is eligible including CNAs, nurses, dietitians, therapists, housekeepers, support/office/activities/recreation staffers, laundry or maintenance workers, and others.
Team of Excellence
The Team of Excellence Award will recognize and celebrate a long-term care team for their exemplary contribution and unwavering commitment to delivering quality care to residents and for advancing the positive image of the LTC profession in the community. A winning team is one that works to build a culture of excellence. One team from a skilled nursing facility and one team from an assisted living community will be selected to receive the award.
Be sure to also apply for the David Lebenbom Memorial Scholarship Award for Nursing Facilities.
Life Membership
Any HCAM member may submit a nomination for Life Membership. Reach out to Lisa Reibsome for details and to request an application.
Additional Awards
Have a suggestion for a new award category? Reach out to Lisa Reibsome and let her know!
AHCA Awards
Each year, the American Health Care Association (AHCA) honors individuals who are dedicated to improving the quality of lives of residents and their surrounding communities. All AHCA member facilities are encouraged to apply, including skilled nursing facilities, short- and long-term care facilities, not-for-profit (NFP) long-term care providers, intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) residential services providers (including intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICFs/IID), and other individuals who work in the long-term care field, including direct care, education, research, and resident advocacy.
NCAL Awards
The NCAL Awards Program recognizes assisted living employees from around the country who demonstrate exemplary work within the profession.
NCAL Leader of the Year Award
This award recognizes an assisted living Administrator/Executive Director, Director of Nursing, or someone in a regional leadership position who demonstrates outstanding innovation, achievement, and capabilities in their provision of high-quality person-centered care in a service-oriented culture in an assisted living community.
NCAL Noble Caregiver Award
This award recognizes frontline caregivers, support and office staff from any department for their contributions that lead to improved quality of life for the residents and create a better work environment for the assisted living community’s staff. This includes, but is not limited to, direct care staff from nursing (CNAs, LNAs, LPNs), support/office staff, housekeeping, dietary, activities/recreation, laundry, and maintenance departments.
National Quality Awards
The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program provides a pathway for providers of long-term and post-acute care services to journey towards performance excellence. The program is based on the core values and criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program.
Member centers may apply for three progressive levels of awards: Bronze—Commitment to Quality, Silver—Achievement in Quality, or Gold—Excellence in Quality. Each level has its own distinct rigors and requirements for quality and performance excellence.
Applications are judged by trained examiners who provide feedback on opportunities for improvement to support continuous learning.