UCH Communities Demonstrate Commitment to Quality

In November, the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) recognized more than 1,575 skilled nursing care centers and assisted living communities nationwide through the organization’s Quality Initiative Recognition Program, which honors member communities for their individual work in achieving Quality Initiative goals.

United Church Homes’ Harmar Place in Marietta, Ohio, and Friendship Village Columbus in Columbus, Ohio, both exceeded benchmarks to earn the distinction.

The four-year program began in 2015 with goals to improve organizational success, short-stay/post-acute care and long-term/dementia care. To do so, communities worked to increase staff stability, adopted a customer satisfaction questionnaire and reduced the number of unintended healthcare outcomes.

Communities were encouraged to safely reduce the rate of hospital readmissions and improve discharge back to the community, as well as safely reduce the off-label use of antipsychotics and hospitalizations.

“Improving quality care as a profession requires dedication from many organizations,” said Mark Parkinson, President and CEO of AHCA/NCAL. “The program provides an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the progress that our members have made by achieving the Quality Initiative goals and improving care for individuals living in their communities. I commend their hard work.”

In addition to the AHCA/NCAL quality recognition, Harmar Place and Trinity Community at Fairborn (formerly Patriot Ridge) in Fairborn, Ohio, both achieved the 2017 Silver Award through the same organization. The award is the second of three distinctions possible through the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program, which recognizes providers across the nation that have demonstrated their commitment to improving quality of care for residents in post-acute and long-term care centers and communities.

Additionally, all United Church Homes owned and managed communities achieved either 4- or 5-star quality ratings through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.

The programs encourage senior living communities to set benchmarks and provide an opportunity for comparisons with other organizations.

“This has been a multi-year journey for United Church Homes communities,” said Chuck Mooney, senior vice president and chief operating officer. “We are proud of all our communities for their commitment to quality and to serving our residents.”

Among those communities that achieved 4- or 5-star Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) quality ratings were Chapel Hill Community (Canal Fulton, Ohio), Fairhaven Community (Upper Sandusky, Ohio), Four Winds Community (Jackson, Ohio), Glenwood Community and Harmar Place (Marietta, Ohio), Parkvue Community (Sandusky, Ohio), Trinity Community at Fairborn (formerly Patriot Ridge) (Fairborn, Ohio), Pilgrim Manor (Grand Rapids, Michigan) and Trinity Community (Beavercreek, Ohio). UCH-managed communities who met the mark were Friendship Village Columbus, SEM Haven (Milford, Ohio) and Uplands Village (Pleasant Hill, Tennessee).

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About United Church Homes: United Church Homes, based in Marion, Ohio, has been “Celebrating the Spirit” of seniors for more than a century. The nonprofit, faith-based organization is one of the nation’s largest providers of senior living services, with more than 1,800 dedicated staff serving 4,700 residents of all faiths in 72 senior living communities throughout 14 states and two Native American nations. UCH is in covenant with the United Church of Christ and welcomes residents of all faiths.