The
American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living
(AHCA/NCAL) announced that five long term and post-acute care providers earned
the 2019 Gold – Excellence in Quality Award. The Gold award is the final of
three distinct levels possible through the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program, which recognizes organizations nationally that serve as models of
excellence in providing high-quality care.
This
year’s Gold – Excellence in Quality Award recipients are:
-
Christian Health Care Center, a skilled nursing and assisted living facility in Wyckoff, New Jersey;
- George E. Wahlen Ogden Veteran’s Home, a skilled nursing center in Ogden, Utah;
- Parker at Stonegate, an assisted living community in Highland Park, New Jersey;
- The Villages Rehabilitation and Nursing, a skilled nursing center in Lady Lake, Florida; and
- Vista Pacifica Convalescent, a skilled nursing center in Riverside, California.
“The Gold
Quality Award is the highest honor a facility can receive that recognizes its
quality of care,” said AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson. “These
recipients are role models for our sector, and because of their years of hard
work, dedication, and passion, they are improving and will continue to improve
lives every day. This recognition is more than well deserved.”
Based on
the core values and criteria of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology’s Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, the AHCA/NCAL National
Quality Award Program challenges member providers to achieve performance
excellence through three progressive levels—Bronze, Silver, and Gold. The Gold
– Excellence in Quality Award is the most prestigious of the program. At this
level, recipients have invested multiple years in mastering and applying the
rigorous quality improvement standards of the Baldrige Criteria to achieve
superior results in leadership, strategic planning, customer and workforce
focus, and operations and knowledge management.
“These
recipients have shown superior performance in areas of quality, and the amount
of time and dedication they have put into this is extraordinary,” said Alana
Wolfe, Chair of the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Board of Overseers. “They
should be extremely proud of reaching this milestone, and we look forward to
celebrating their achievements this coming fall.”
Since the
inception of the National Quality Award Program in 1996, only 38 long term and
post-acute care providers—excluding this year’s recipients—have achieved this
level of quality recognition.
A full
list of recipients is available on the AHCA/NCAL Quality Award website here.
The 2019
program is sponsored by AHCA/NCAL Associate Business Members: First Quality,
NRC Health, Team TSI Corporation, and MatrixCare. Recipient organizations will
be honored during AHCA/NCAL’s 70th Convention & Expo, October 13-16, 2019 in Orlando, Florida.
The
American Health Care Association (AHCA) announced the recipients for the 2019
AHCA Awards program today. Each year, AHCA recognizes the men and women who
selflessly care for individuals in long term and post-acute care centers, and
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD) residences. These honorees
demonstrate selflessness, compassion, and strive to enhance the lives of
seniors and individuals with disabilities in their communities.
The 2019
AHCA Awards recipients are:
-
Hero of the Year- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Barbara Smith, Valley Village, Winnetka, California
- Not for Profit Program of the Year: Good Samaritan Society- Ambassador, New Hope, Minnesota
- Not for Profit Trustee Award: Dave Gessel, Mission Health Services, West Valley City, Utah
- Adult Volunteer of the Year: Richard Cole, LACOBA Homes, Inc., Monett, Missouri
- Group Volunteer of the Year: Friends of Good Samaritan Society- Scotland, Good Samaritan Society- Scotland, Scotland, South Dakota
- Young Adult Volunteer of the Year: Railey Connor, Crestview Health & Rehabilitation, Crestview, Florida
The Hero
of the Year award recognizes an individual who works or volunteers in an
ICF/IID facility or HCBS Waiver Homes and has shown commitment and dedication
to serving people with ID/DD.
The Not
for Profit Program of the Year award highlights a specific program that adds
value to the care of individuals within a community.
The Not
for Profit Trustee award honors a not for profit trustee committed to
faithfully carrying out functions of the board and dedicated to improving the
lives of frail and vulnerable individuals.
The
Volunteer of the Year program seeks to honor a young adult (under 19), an
adult, and a group organization that have served in a volunteer capacity for
more than one year and have made a positive contribution to residents and staff
of a care center.
Award
recipients will be honored at the AHCA/NCAL
70th Convention in Orlando on October 16, 2019.
On
Tuesday, October 15, during the 70th AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo, special
programming for ID/DD providers include sessions focused on leadership and
accountability, workforce challenges, and ethics. You'll also have great opportunities for
networking and sharing ideas and experiences.
It is just one of many special events taking place over the four-day
convention in October. More information
can be found here.
AHCA's Research Department has released the following
June 2019 updates for use by AHCA/NCAL members (Login Required):
If you have any questions relating to these
reports, which include important ICF/IID state and national data, please
contact AHCA’s Research Director, Kiran Sreenivas.
AHCA/NCAL began
a new social media advocacy initiative earlier this year and is encouraging all
members to get involved. The effort
focuses on improving the overall image of the post-acute and long term care
profession by sharing positive stories and pushing back on pieces that attempt
to tie all providers to isolated negative events.
AHCA/NCAL
will be sending interested members tips for getting more involved on social
media, best practices for posting content, sample posts, and a roundup of
positive stories about the profession on a regular basis. Individuals who want
to get involved should email socialmedia@ahca.org to get on
the mailing list.
The
campaign also will include a rapid response to stories that are unfairly
negative about the profession or do not accurately portray the reality of
post-acute and long term care. AHCA/NCAL
hopes to build on these successes as the year continues. With thousands of
buildings nationwide who touch the lives of millions of people, there is the
chance to seriously affect the way the profession is viewed and treated by
lawmakers and the media.
The National Association of States
United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) holds a monthly call or webinar
concerning topics of interest to those who work in the field of aging and disability.
One of the past calls focused on resources for
people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias and their caregivers. Information about
future calls, and audio recording of previous ones, can be found here.
