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Westside Terrace recognized nationally for improving the quality of long-term care

Westside Terrace Healthcare has been recognized by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) for its achievements in the quality of care they provide. The long-term healthcare center accomplished four out of four national goals including improved customer satisfaction, functional outcomes (mobility) for residents, safe reduction of hospitalizations and safe reduction of off-label use of antipsychotic medication. Only 27 facilities in Alabama achieved this recognition and Westside Terrace is the only one in Dothan to have received it.

“The entire team at Westside Terrace Healthcare is honored to be recognized for this incredible achievement,” said Kristie Hughes, administrator. “We are proud to improve care for our residents. Our commitment to quality is always our No. 1 priority.”

AHCA/NCAL recognized long-term care providers for their achievements through its Quality Initiative Recognition Program, which honors member facilities for their individual work in achieving AHCA/NCAL Quality Initiative goals.

“This achievement represents progress on important quality measures that will positively impact the lives of residents,” said Dr. David Gifford, senior vice president of quality and regulatory affairs and chief medical officer at AHCA/NCAL. “We applaud these organizations for their hard work and dedication to this significant quality improvement effort.”

Better for residents

Launched in 2012 by AHCA/NCAL, the Quality Initiative serves as a national effort to build upon the existing work of the long-term and post-acute care profession. The initiative aims to further improve quality of care in skilled nursing centers and assisted living communities by challenging member facilities to meet measurable goals in the areas of functional outcomes, hospital readmissions, off-label use of antipsychotics and customer satisfaction.

Improved functional outcomes are important for the quality of life for residents. Mobility and the ability for self-care contribute to healthy aging and maximize independence. Hospital readmissions can impact the physical and emotional well-being of nursing home residents. Prolonged use of antipsychotic medications can impact residents’ psychosocial health. Finally, the satisfaction of residents and their loved ones is important to ensure facilities are providing quality care and peace of mind. According to a news release announcing the recognitions, fewer residents are returning to the hospital after entering long-term care and the use of antipsychotic medications has declined since the AHCA/NCAL initiative was launched.

Westside Terrace’s eligibility for the recognition was determined by data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and Nursing Home Compare, as well as customer satisfaction scores submitted via AHCA/NCAL’s data tracking tool LTC Trend Tracker.

The Quality Initiative Recognition Program ceremony will be held at AHCA/NCAL’s Quality Summit in Grapevine, Texas February 24, 2020. Learn more about the AHCA/NCAL Quality Initiative Recognition Program here.

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