The submission period for the 2027 Ballad Health Excellence Awards is open through Oct. 29. If you’ve been involved in a performance improvement project at Ballad Health, now is your chance to be recognized!
Last year, we received 102 entries from across the organization, 87 of which were eligible for judging – showcasing the innovation, dedication and excellence that our teams exhibit every day. Click here to see a review of some of our top award winners from 2026, and you can also visit this site which has an extensive gallery of photos from the 2026 awards, available for viewing and downloading.
We’re excited to build on that momentum and once again celebrate the impactful work that continues to happen throughout Ballad Health.
Submission period
- Opens: Monday, Aug. 3, 2026
- Closes: Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026*
- Awards ceremony: March 2027
*In order to ensure appropriate time for the judging of the projects, this is a firm deadline that will not be extended.
Champions of Excellence nominations
Once the group project submission entry period comes to close on Oct. 29, we will begin the process of accepting nominees for the Champions of Excellence award category.
Submitting a project
Click here to access the submission form.
Note: You must be on a Ballad Health network device to access the submission link.
You can also find the submission form on the Ballad Health intranet main page under “Quick Links” or by clicking the Excellence Awards banner at the top of the page.
Resources to assist in submitting projects
There are resources available to help team members understand what is required when submitting a Ballad Health Excellence Awards project. (You can find the resource documents on the intranet on the Quality Department site.) Resources include:
- Criteria for project acceptance and judging – Information explaining what is required for a project to be accepted and what is required for it to qualify for evaluation by the Excellence Awards judges.
- Question-by-question guidance – Written guidance explaining what each submission question means, along with tips to help team members provide complete and appropriate responses.
- Excellence Awards glossary – Definitions of key terms to help ensure that team members understand the intended meaning and interpretation of terms as they relate specifically to the Ballad Health Excellence Awards.
Recognition categories
Projects completed since Jan. 1, 2024, are eligible for submission. There are three recognition levels for improvement projects:
- Improvement Level – Demonstrates improvement beyond the baseline level
- Implementation Level – Fully implemented project with sustained success
- Impact Level – Significant, measurable improvement with impact beyond the initial department or facility
In addition, six Excellence Factor Awards will be presented:
- Service and Access – Design and deliver exceptional experiences for patients, families and physicians; increase access to healthcare services.
- People – Create a supportive work environment; recruit and retain exemplary team members to meet the healthcare needs of our region.
- Health of the Community – Improve the overall well-being of the community.
- Quality/Safety – Provide the highest-quality care; achieve a zero-harm environment.
- Innovation – Drive forward-thinking solutions and transformative approaches to enhance patient outcomes, efficiency and healthcare delivery.
- Finance – Bring value to customers; manage costs effectively; improve revenue stream.
A Quality Excellence Award will be presented to the project reflecting the most effective and sustainable new process or improvement, achieved by adhering to a systematic improvement/problem-solving approach.
A Chairman’s Quality Award will also be presented to one outstanding project that exemplifies excellence across multiple domains, and individual Champions of Excellence will be recognized.
NOTE: Only certain levels of leadership are eligible to make nominations. For those leaders, your involvement in the nomination process is essential to recognizing the individuals and teams who make a difference in our organization and in the lives of our patients and communities. If you have questions or need assistance, use the “Site Feedback” link on the submission entry page for support within 24 hours, Monday through Friday.
Let’s celebrate the excellence that drives Ballad Health forward!
