Sponsored by Right Dose, A Guardian Pharmacy.

Silver Quality Award Application Workshop 2026

Live and On-Demand Access

The program will be recorded. All participants must be registered prior to the first live session.

Program Description

Earning an AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award is a prestigious achievement that recognizes providers committed to continuous quality improvement. If your organization is an active recipient of the Bronze Award and is ready to take the next step, the Silver Quality Award Application Workshop will help advance your journey.

Led by Brenda Irlbeck, IHCA’s VP of Regulatory Affairs, this virtual workshop series is designed to guide participants through the Silver Award criteria and application process with expert instruction and practical insight. Through six sessions held between August and November 2026, you’ll break down the requirements, strengthen criteria responses and gain a clearer understanding of how to demonstrate systematic approaches, deployment and measurable results.

This workshop is about more than completing an application. Workshop participants will gain valuable insights into using the Baldrige-based criteria to evaluate their organization’s performance, refine processes and drive significant improvement. The Silver Award challenges providers to show how their systems work together—and this workshop will help tell that story with clarity and confidence.

Workshop Format

• Six 1-hour virtual sessions

How to Prepare

Please note that all information will be for your facility’s use only; it will not be shared with other participants.

• Review the Silver Self-Assessment Tool as a team. Complete as much as possible before each relevant workshop session.
• Assemble your application team. For example: Administrator, DON, HR, MDS, Support Services leadership, Social Worker, etc.
• Download/review the 2027 Silver Application Packet.
• Have the most current Bronze application and feedback report available for review.
• Brainstorm a list of improvements implemented in 2025 and 2026.
• Gather a list of measures and indicators regularly used at your center/community.

Schedule

All sessions take place from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. CT.

August 13, 2026
Intro, Technical Requirements, Organizational Profile

August 27, 2026
Results and Category 1 (Leadership)

September 24, 2026
Category 2 (Strategy)

October 8, 2026
Category 3 (Customers) and Category 5 (Workforce)

October 29, 2026
Category 4 (Measurement, Analysis and Knowledge Management)

November 12, 2026
Category 6 (Operations) and Results

Continuing Education Credit

This program is approved for 6.0 contact hours for all disciplines.

Registration Fees

Members:   $350 per facility
IHCQP members:           $325 per facility

NOTE: Only one person per facility needs to register via the IHCA website. Please send an email with the additional staff members that will be attending to info@iowahealthcare.org.

• Training Hours: 6.00