WPHCA is soliciting nominations for the 2026 Performance Excellence Award to demonstrate WPHCA’s commitment to supporting Community Health Center (CHC) team-based performance improvement and innovation. The award is conferred annually at WPHCA’s Fall Learning Session. The Performance Excellence Award recognizes and celebrates CHC teams and their efforts over the past year towards achieving the quintuple aim: improving population health, enhancing patient experience, promoting access to care, improving care team well-being, and reducing costs.

WPHCA acknowledges that improvements can manifest in various forms, and nominated teams may demonstrate a range of achievements, including clinical and organizational process enhancements, innovations in digital tools and technology, service expansion, and more.

WPHCA will accept nominations for the Performance Excellence Award from anyone familiar with the work of the Health Center improvement team (e.g., CEO, performance improvement team member, partners, or other Community Health Center staff) from now through July 23, 2026. 

To be considered, nominees must submit the following: 

• Completed Nomination Form (see below) – 2026 Nomination Form
• Photo of the nominated Health Center team 
• Submit your completed nomination form and photo to Barb Willms, bwillms@wphca.org.

WPHCA staff will facilitate an objective selection process administered by 2-3 out-of-state Primary Care Association, Health Center Controlled Network, or CHC staff recruited to serve as members of the review team. 

All nominees must meet the following criteria:

• The nominated team is an inter-professional group focused on performance improvement.
• To encourage leadership development within CHCs, teams led by staff other than CEO/Executive level will be preferred. Senior leadership may be represented on the performance improvement team, but other staff should lead primary work efforts and coordination.
• The nominated team conducted a specific performance improvement or innovation initiative at their Health Center that works towards achieving the goals of the Quintuple Aim including:
  1. Improving Population Health
  2. Enhancing Patient Experience
  3. Promoting Access to Care
  4. Improving Care Team Well-Being
  5. Reducing Costs
• The team used data and/or other tools to measure and demonstrate the impact of their work.
• Nominees should share their experiences demonstrating engagement and collaboration with local and statewide partners by sharing and spreading their improvement learnings.

Awards will be announced at the evening reception scheduled as part of the 2026 Fall Learning Session, on September 16, 2026, at the Great Wolf Lodge in Wisconsin Dells, WI. The selected team will be presented with a Performance Excellence Award for their Health Center, and the Health Center’s name will be added to WPHCA’s statewide Performance Excellence Award. In addition to receiving an award, the team will be given three complimentary Fall Learning Session registrations for team members to attend the 2027 Fall Learning Session.

Health Centers nominating a team for the Performance Excellence Award are encouraged to send a team of representative(s) to the Fall Learning Session. All nominated teams will be recognized during the Fall Learning Session evening reception.

Fill out the 2026 Nomination Form to nominate a team for WPHCA’s 2026 Performance Excellence Award. Submit your completed nomination form and photo to Barb Willms, bwillms@wphca.org.

Submit your nomination packet by July 23, 2026

Your nomination packet should include:

• Completed nomination form (online form) – 2026 Nomination Form
• Photo of the team and/or members engaged in the work together
• Any additional material you wish to submit

If you have any questions, please reach out to Barb Willms, bwillms@wphca.org.

Nominators must submit answers to all questions for a nominee to be considered for the WPHCA Performance Excellence Award. Portions of the description may be used when presenting this award.