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Connecticut-based Organizations Partner to Engage Nursing Homes, Consumers in New National Quality Campaign

Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes Campaign Aims at Accelerated Improvement, Resident and Staff Satisfaction

Middletown, CT – Qualidigm, Connecticut’s Culture Change Coalition, long-term care trade associations, the Department of Public Health and health care quality experts are partnering to support nursing homes in the state that volunteer for a new national campaign aimed at accelerating the rate of quality improvement in nursing homes across the country. 

The Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes campaign kicked off Friday, September 29, 2006 at a national Nursing Home Quality Summit in Washington, DC.  The voluntary campaign targets eight measurable clinical quality and organizational improvement goals on which nursing homes can work to improve their quality of care.  Consumers are also invited to join the campaign.  Registration and information are available at the campaign Web site, www.nhqualitycampaign.org.

The campaign intends to establish Local Area Networks for Excellence (LANEs) in states across the country that will consist of local organizations qualified to promote and support the effort. In Connecticut, the LANE will be a collaboration of organizations that support and promote quality care and environments for nursing home residents and staff. Initial members of Connecticut’s LANE are: Qualidigm, Bishop Wicke Health Center, Connecticut Alliance for Long Term Care (CALTC), Connecticut Department of Public Health, Connecticut Association of Not-for-profit Providers for the Aging, Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities, Connecticut Culture Change Coalition, Jefferson House,  Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, Lord Chamberlain, McLean, Meriden Center, Miller Memorial Community, Inc and Riverside Health & Rehabilitation Center.

“We have seen important improvements in the quality of care in our state’s nursing homes since Medicare began publicly reporting on clinical quality nearly four years ago,” said Marcia Petrillo, Chief Executive Officer of Qualidigm.  “But we know we must aim to accelerate improvement, so that every resident is getting the best care possible.  We urge nursing homes to register to participate in the two-year campaign.”

The campaign is different from existing national quality initiatives in several respects.  It encourages consumer involvement as an important aspect to achieving success.  The campaign also acknowledges organizational culture elements such as the critical role of consistent nursing home staffing and resident and family satisfaction for improving care.  The campaign Web site will also offer free technical assistance and guidelines for participating homes.

For more information about the Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes campaign, visit www.nhqualitycampaign.org.

Qualidigm is a nationally recognized private, non-profit consulting and research company headquartered in Middletown, CT.  Dedicated to improving the quality and safety of health care, Qualidigm has over two decades of experience in delivering innovative, scientifically based, practical solutions for its clients in the public and private sectors. It is the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for Connecticut, and is a Patient Safety Organization (PSO) as designated by the Connecticut Department of Public Health. 

The company’s vision is to be the partner of choice for those who commit to achieving sustainable improvement in health and the quality of health care.  Qualidigm actively engages in local and national partnerships with providers, physicians, payers, business and consumers, as well as accreditation bodies, state and federal government programs, academic institutions, and research organizations.

For further information, please contact:
Maxine Goldsmith
Qualidigm                               
Telephone: 860.632.6301

This material was prepared by Qualidigm, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Connecticut, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents presented do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. Pub #8SOWCTNH200629.