Quality First

1.    What is “Quality First”?

2.    KAHSA’s Role

3.    Resources

The Aging Services field continues to grow and change to meet the demands of an aging population. We have entered a new age of caring for elders and promoting alternative models of care across settings. This change includes reaffirming our commitment to providing quality care and services to elders in need. A national movement is underway across aging services providers called Quality First. The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, with the help of state affiliates such as KAHSA, have implemented AAHSA Quality First to earn the public's trust in aging services. KAHSA members have embraced this philosophy by publicly pledging to put Quality First at the center of their operations. To date, 83% of KAHSA members have signed the Quality First Covenant.

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What is “Quality First”??

Quality First is a philosophy of quality and a framework for earning public trust in aging services. Quality First is a renewal of our commitment as aging services providers to help older adults and their loved ones live their lives to their fullest potential.

Through Quality First, we will work in partnership with all stakeholders - government, consumers, and the people we serve and their families - to create quality of care and quality of life in aging services. Consumers must feel confident that they are receiving the high quality care and services they deserve.

American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA), the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care launched Quality First in July 2002.

Quality First applies to all aging services providers: nursing homes, continuing care retirement communities, assisted living and senior housing facilities, and community service organizations.

The core of AAHSA Quality First is the 10 Elements of Quality:

1.      Commitment - A pledge by aging services providers across the continuum of aging services to maintain and promote ethical practices and the highest standards of quality.

2.      Governance Accountability - Achieving and maintaining high standards of management and governance to improve quality consistent with our mission and values.

3.      Leading-Edge Care and Services - Implementing models and practices that are based on evidence of success, represent the tradition of personal service and are adaptable to a changing society.

4.      Community Involvement - Engaging in community citizenship and service - social accountability, volunteer involvement and relationship building.

2.        Continuous Quality Improvement - Using CQI methods to enhance existing programs, improve effectiveness and foster a collaborative work environment.

3.        Human Resources Development - Providing training, competitive wages and benefits, and a supportive workplace environment.

4.        Consumer-Friendly Information - Providing accessible and understandable information for older adults, families and caregivers.

5.        Consumer Participation - Engaging residents/clients, family members and other consumers in care and services.

6.        Research Findings and Education - Using and sharing the latest research findings to improve care and services for older adults.

7.        Public Trust and Consumer Confidence - Committing to a policy of outreach, openness and authenticity to increase public understanding of quality aging services and earn the trust of the people we serve and their families - as well as the media, the public and policymakers.

The seven principles of Quality First are intended to cultivate and nourish an environment of continuous quality improvement, openness and leadership among aging services providers:

1.      Continuous Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement

2.      Public Disclosure and Accountability

3.      Patient/Resident and Family Rights

4.      Workforce Excellence

5.      Public Input and Community Involvement

6.      Ethical Practices

7.      Financial Stewardship

We expect these tangible outcomes from Quality First:

1.      A demonstrated continued improvement in compliance with applicable federal and state regulations.

2.        A demonstrable progress in promoting financial integrity and preventing occurrences of fraud.

3.        A demonstrable progress (and continued compliance) in the prevention of abuse and neglect.

4.        Progressive and/or sustained achievements in quality of clinical outcomes.

5.        Consumers will report high satisfaction with care and services.

6.        A demonstrable improvement in employee retention and turnover rates.

Quality improvement is both a philosophy and a management method based on the belief that improvement is always possible. It ensures that policies and practices at every level of an organization are geared to the provision of quality care and services.

Aging services organizations achieve quality improvement by establishing processes that enable them to continually assess what they do and how they do it. The processes may address methods to monitor a resident's or client's needs, to job design and training for staff, or to change the culture of an organization. Staff at every level must be active in quality improvement. The board of directors or trustees have an important role to play, also.

On a national basis, the National Commission for Quality Long-term Care will be "monitoring" the field. The Commission will evaluate quality of aging services, identify factors influencing the ability to improve quality of care nationally, and make recommendations about national efforts that would lead to sustainable quality improvement.

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What is KAHSA's role?

Over the past several years, KAHSA has focused on recruiting members to pledge Quality First. As stated above, at least 83% of KAHSA's 160 members have signed the Covenant in partnership with their board. We are now providing presentations and strategic planning opportunities to KAHSA members to assist in the integration process.

One of the first steps in the process is to do an organization-wide assessment of care and services as related to the tenants of Quality First. Many KAHSA members find that they score highly in one or more areas -- and have for years. Additionally, they have the opportunity to identify areas in need of focus. KAHSA and AAHSA are available to provide them with resources and hands-on services to meet these needs.

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Resources for Quality First

·        A comprehensive source of information on Quality First is available through AAHSA at www.aahsa.org/qualityfirst.

·        For more information you can contact:

Locally: Dana Weaver, Director of Special Projects and Communications, KAHSA, dweaver@kahsa.org

Nationally: Bruce Rosenthal, Director of Quality First, AHSA, brosenthal@aahsa.org

KAHSA Members who have pledged Quality First, click HERE (Microsoft Word doc file).

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