Harborside Healthcare Announces Support for Nursing Home Quality Initiatives

Harborside Healthcare today announces its support for two major initiatives in long-term care quality, congratulates its professional peers on the gains made in the last two years and reaffirms its commitment to continually improving the quality of care we provide to our residents.

Boston, MA (PRWEB) January 21, 2005 -- Last week in Washington, DC, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy Thompson released data on the progress of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Nursing Home Quality Initiative (NHQI) that began in mid 2002. Secretary Thompson was joined in a rare combined press conference with CMS, HHS, and the leaders of the three leading provider associations, The American Health Care Association (AHCA), the American Association of Homes and services for the Aging (AAHSA), and the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care (The Alliance).

Secretary Thompson detailed improvement in many areas of nursing home improvement saying, The data we're releasing ...shows nursing home residents have better care -- I want to repeat that -- they have better care and a better quality of life since we launched this program. We are very pleased with the outcomes of our quality improvement efforts." Some of the many improvements included a dramatic reduction in the prevalence of physical pain, improvement in the use of physical restraints, and improvements in other clinical areas as well. Thompson continued, After two years, it's worked better than we could have hoped for, we're pleased that nursing home residents are now receiving better care compared to just two years ago

Secretary Thompson and CMS Administrator Mark B. McClellan, M.D., PhD also outlined plans for the continuing Quality Initiative. These plans include better public information on nursing home performance, strengthened investigation of customer complaints, improved fire safety, continuing partnership efforts with nursing homes, residents and their families, and an improved registry for background checks of potential employees.

One of the primary speakers at the press conference was Stephen L. Guillard, Chairman of The Alliance and CEO of Boston-Based Harborside Healthcare. Mr. Guillard said, Two critical actions have contributed to improvements in quality: first, is the creation of the Nursing Home Quality initiative, and the Bush Administration working with providers so that they are part of the solution. And second, the Administration helped restore critical funding last year that has brought some stability to the sector following billions of dollars in cuts in recent years, allowing providers to invest these resources toward making NHQI work."

Another major quality initiative that began at about the same time and is having a dramatic impact on the profession is known as Quality First. In July 2002, as part of a broader initiative to improve the quality of nursing home care in the United States, Harborside Healthcare, along with its peer companies and representatives of the two major long--term care trade associations, entered into the Quality First Pledge and Code of Conduct. Based on seven principles, the Quality First Pledge and Code of Conduct outline specific and measurable steps that companies must take to improve quality outcomes in nursing facilities over time. As Quality First Pledge signatories, companies must commit to implementing each element of the Pledge and must continuously work toward achieving or improving upon the elements laid out in the Code of Conduct.

The Quality First Pledge is an unprecedented initiative to improve the quality of nursing home care. It represents a strong, proactive commitment to identify and pursue quality in long-term care. For too long, our profession has been held back by negative public perception, overregulation, and under funding from the government. We, as providers, took this bold step to reorient the priorities of our profession and to set the course for quality care for the elderly in this country," said Stephen Guillard.

A major element of the Quality First Initiative is the formation of the National Commission on Quality Long-Term Care. This Commission, funded by the long-term care profession but operating independently is co-chaired by former Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. The Commission was empanelled in October and will work to study the quality of long-term care and make recommendations for improvement.

As part of Harborside Healthcares continuing commitment to quality and to the requirements of the Quality First Pledge, Harborside was the first company in the nation to publish a report on its own results.

In the report -- the first of its kind from any long-term care company - Harborside makes available to the public detailed information on its approaches to quality care, its systems and processes, and their results. Since the pledge was signed in 2002, Harborside has made significant investment in its workforce, its systems and its infrastructure. As the report reveals, these investments have begun to pay off. Harborsides regulatory survey performance has improved by 20%, employee turnover has been reduced by one third, the use of contract staffing has been cut by two thirds, clinical outcomes have improved in several areas, and overall customer satisfaction has increased significantly.

Harborside Healthcare is firmly committed to the disclosure component of the Quality First pledge. We truly believe that public disclosure increases the professions level of accountability, which will drive us all to compete in terms of quality. Ultimately, that will benefit consumers." Said the reports author, Harborsides Vice President for Quality, Brad Shiverick.

Harborside Healthcare is one of the nations most respected skilled-nursing and long-term care companies, with 44 facilities in 8 states in the Midwest, mid-Atlantic, and New England areas. Through an administrative services agreement with Compass Healthcare Services of Palm Harbor Florida, Harborside is affiliated with 9 centers in Florida. Fulfilling Our Pledge is available to the public at www.harborsidehealthcare.com/quality.

Contact Brad Shiverick 617-646-5504

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