12/11/2025

Ohio Department of Aging Opens EXCEL Academy Application Window

The Ohio Department of Aging is accepting applications for the Excellence in Clinical & Educational Learning (EXCEL) Academy, a statewide initiative established in 2024 to support quality improvement and workforce development in nursing homes. Developed in response to recommendations from the Ohio Governor’s Nursing Home Quality & Accountability Task Force, EXCEL provides no-cost coursework on medication optimization, infection prevention and control, nutrition, and hospitalization, with additional topics planned to meet ongoing training needs.

EXCEL builds on the model created through the Ohio Department of Aging’s Regional Rapid Response Assistance Program, which connected long-term care settings with clinical expertise during the COVID-19 public health emergency and continues to support providers today. Additional information is available through the department’s EXCEL Academy overview, and organizations may submit applications through the Care Center portal.