Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Five Long Term and Post-Acute Care Providers Earn Top Distinction in Quality Care

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.

AHCA Announces 2019 Award Recipients

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.

ID/DD Provider Education Offered at the AHCA/NCAL Convention

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.

ICF/IID Reports

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.

We Need You for Our Social Media Initiative

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.

Articles and Resources of Interest


Legislative and Agency Corner


National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities

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.

Upcoming 2019 Events

AHCA/NCAL 70th Annual Convention & Expo – October 13-16, 2019
ID/DD Day at Convention – October 15, 2019

2019 Health Care Observances

September 2019 marks, among other observances, Healthy Aging Month, National Cholesterol Education Month, National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, National Preparedness Month, and National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.  The 2019 Healthcare Observances Calendar can be found here.