The South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) is pleased to announce our second annual Post-Acute Partners in Care Conference Award Celebration.
This year’s conference, A Century Strong: Rockin’ the Future of Care, will take place March 31–April 1, 2026, at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. During a special award luncheon, SDAHO will honor four outstanding individuals and one exceptional facility for their contributions to post-acute care.
SDAHO recognizes the vital role post-acute care professionals play in providing high-quality care, supporting a culture of safety, and putting residents and patients first. We invite members to submit nominations for individuals and/or facilities that exemplify excellence and deserve recognition. The SDAHO Post-Acute Council will review nominations and select one recipient in each category.
Nomination Deadline: January 15, 2026
Click here for the Post-Acute Partners in Care Award Nomination Form
Below is an overview of award categories and criteria. Nominees should reflect excellence across the category criteria; however, they do not need to excel in every area. We encourage nominators to highlight the nominee’s overall impact, contributions, and outstanding achievements. To view the full award nomination criteria, click here.
Award Categories and Criteria
Clinical Excellence Award (Licensed Caregivers)
- Clinical Expertise
- Patient-Centered Care
- Innovation
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Leadership and mentorship
- Quality Improvement
- Community Engagement
- Professional Development
- Ethical, accountable practice
- Advocacy
Frontline Caregiver of the Year (Non-licensed caregivers: C.N.A., home health aide, housekeeper, activity assistant, dietary staff, etc.)
- Compassionate Care
- Clinical Competence
- Patient Advocacy
- Communication Skills
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Adaptability
- Continuous Improvement
- Cultural Competence
- Mentorship
- Community Involvement
Leadership Excellence Award (Supervisory Staff)
- Vision and Strategy
- Inspiration and Motivation
- Communication
- Decision-Making
- Mentorship and Development
- Innovation
- Conflict Resolution
- Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
- Results Orientation
- Community Engagement
Outstanding Facility of the Year (Skilled nursing facility, assisted living, home health, or hospice. Winner receives a $1,000 award.)
- High-quality Care
- Compassionate Service
- Investment in Staff Development
- Patient-Centered Care
- Communication
- Innovation
- Regulatory Compliance and Safety
- Community Engagement
- Continuous Improvement
Caregiver Lifetime Achievement Award (20+ years of service in healthcare)
- Professional Excellence
- Impactful Patient Care
- Leadership and Mentorship
- Advancement and Innovation in Health Care
- Community Engagement
- Advocacy
- Dedication and Longevity
- Professional Development
- Recognition and Awards
- Ethical Practice
Additional details and registration to the 2026 Post-Acute Partners in Care Conference is coming soon, visit the conference page for the latest updates.
