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Facilities' Dedication to Continuous Quality Improvement Earns Quality Awards

Washington, D.C. - Cloverlodge Care Center in St. Edward, Nebraska, and Heritage of Wauneta in Wauneta, Nebraska, are two of only 44 long-term care facilities in the nation recognized by the American Health Care Association (AHCA) for demonstrating a strong commitment to implementing the principles of continuous quality improvement. The prestigious Quality Step I and II awards were presented to Heritage of Wauneta and Cloverlodge Care Center, respectively, at the annual convention in Boston, MA in October.

"There are many benefits to pursuing the level of excellence these awards demand," stated AHCA President and CEO Charles H. Roadman II, M.D. "In addition to improved quality of life for nursing facility residents, the awards demonstrate that systematic, data-driven quality initiatives create better places of employment, more effective managerial structures, and more active roles in the surrounding communities."

AHCA's Quality Awards are modeled after the criteria of the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award, the nation's premier award that recognizes quality achievement. AHCA's awards are designed to support continuous quality improvement efforts in long-term care by promoting awareness and education, and to recognize quality achievements.

The AHCA Quality Awards this year consist of an entry-level Step I award and a more rigorous Step II award. Previously, Cloverlodge Care Center was awarded the Step I award. All the facilities that applied for this award addressed how they integrated the elements of systematic quality into their operations. As a Step I-winning applicant, Heritage of Wauneta demonstrated its organization-wide commitment to a facility mission, identified its principal customers and their expectations, and indicated ways that it is striving to meet their needs. As a Step II winner, Cloverlodge Care Center addressed in detail aspects of leadership, strategic planning, information and analysis, human resource development and management, process management, and business results.

"Recipients of the Quality Awards reflect long-term care's commitment to meeting customer needs through sophisticated quality improvement efforts," Dr. Roadman said. "An increasing number of facilities have embraced continuous quality improvement and recognize how this translates into richer lives for residents."

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