PHCA Announces Excellence in Quality Award Winners

HARRISBURG, Pa. --- The Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA) and its members are committed to providing high-quality care. Demonstrating that quality is more than a ‘slogan’. PHCA recognizes outstanding programs as part of the PHCA Quality Initiative Plan. In its ongoing efforts to recognize the quality of care, PHCA annually holds the Excellence in Quality contest for all of our members. The 2019 winners are:

• Best Systematic Approach to Quality and a Quality Culture: Hopkins Center Genesis HealthCare For years the Quality Improvement process at Hopkins Center had remained stagnant and did not permit the free flow of ideas across disciplines. In February of 2018, they began their journey to improve their approach to quality and quality care by utilizing a new approach to QAPI. Center leadership guided and coached team members through 3 months of training to drive engagement. The plan has been sustainable with improvement in clinical outcomes, along with all staff working together to solve problems.
• Improved Quality of Life: Sunrise Senior Living of McCandless Sunrise of McCandless faced the problem of resident engagement and motivation to give back to others. They wanted to improve their Live with Generosity program at the community, specifically for the Memory Care Neighborhood. The program focused on encouraging seniors to give back as a way to maintain physical activity, mental health, and a sense of purpose. In coordination with the Generosity Program, the Star Fish Program promoting a safe and positive environment has been utilized to grow participation from 2 resident volunteers to 52 including residents, family members, and team members to enhance the quality of life.
• Improved Person-Centered Care for Residents: Abramson Center for Jewish Life Abramson Center for Jewish Life initiated the “All About Me Project” to enhance their processes for welcoming new admissions in the transition from the home to the nursing home setting. They developed a systematic approach to equipping direct care staff with information to assist with structuring the resident’s daily schedule in a way that was familiar and comfortable to them. Since program inception two years ago, internal benchmarks evolved to show tangible data to improved person-centered care. They have partnered with two university institutions, Scripps Gerontology Center, at the University of Miami in Ohio, and Penn State Person Centered Systems in Living of Care.
• Best Practice in Quality Workforce Development: Siemon’s Heritage Personal Care Center Siemon’s Heritage Personal Care faced increased call-offs, a number of vacant shifts, and significant overtime resulting in decreased staff satisfaction and increased turnover rate. The need for improvement was identified through one-on-one and small group meetings with direct care staff as well as reviewing monthly QAPI meetings. Management and direct care staff worked closely as a team to create a schedule that satisfied employees and provided consistent quality care shifting from 8-hour shifts to 12 hours. This resulted in decreased call-offs, turnover rate, and overtime.
• Best Practice in Providing Innovative Quality Care: Providence Place of Drums Residents at Providence Place of Drums reported that staff was unable to respond to them in a timely manner. They committed to making sure resident needs were met within 5 minutes, as well as staff responding in an emergency situation in under 5 minutes. Providence Place of Drums developed a plan that would ensure continuity through all levels of staff. They discuss trends, factors, and have been able to manage medical needs based on resident and staff feedback.