Aug. 1, 2011

CONTACT:
Cheri Tollefson Lehse
Director of Communications and Marketing
(320) 654-2344

St. Benedict’s Senior Community recognized for providing high-quality long-term care

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) selected St. Benedict’s Senior Community (SBSC) - St. Cloud as a 2011 recipient of the Silver – Achievement in Quality National Quality Award for its outstanding performance in the health care profession. The prestigious award highlights select facilities across the nation that serve as models of excellence for providing high-quality long-term care.

“Across the country, long-term care facilities are increasingly focused on providing high-quality, person-centered care for every person they serve,” said Governor Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of AHCA/NCAL. “We applaud St. Benedict’s on this achievement and on its commitment to exceptional long-term care.”

“At St. Benedict’s, we are very proud to have achieved the Silver level,” said Christine Bakke, Gorecki Care Center administrator. “This award is amazing recognition of our staff’s dedication to providing quality, safety, service and value to every resident every day.”

Implemented by AHCA/NCAL in 1996, the National Quality Award Program is based on the criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program. The program, which assists providers of long term and post-acute care services in achieving their performance excellence goals, has three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Facilities begin the quality improvement process at the Bronze level, where they develop an organizational profile with performance elements such as vision and mission statements and an assessment of customers’ expectations. St. Benedict’s received the Bronze award in 2009.

Applicants must first receive the Bronze award to become eligible for the Silver - Achievement in Quality award. Silver applicants mustdemonstrate a level of quality achievement through good performance outcomes that have evolved from the facilities’ ability to embrace the core values and concepts of visionary leadership, a focus on the future and resident-focused excellence.

“Receiving this award is evidence of the staff commitment and successful leadership at SBSC and its ability to apply rigorous standards to operations and service,” said Chick Stepahin, chair, AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Board of Overseers. “St. Benedict’s has been consistent in its performance and dedication to providing high-quality care.”

A team of trained examiners reviews each Quality Award application and determines recipients based on a set of rigorous criteria. As a recipient of the Silver - Achievement in Quality award, SBSC may now move forward in developing approaches and achieving performance levels that meet the criteria required for the Gold – Excellence in Quality award, which requires them to address the Baldrige Program’s Health Care Criteria in its entirety.

The awards are sponsored by AHCA/NCAL Associate Business My InnerView, a Web-based applied research and quality-management company that supports leaders across the entire assisted living, senior housing and skilled nursing profession with tools to measure, benchmark and improve performance. SBSC was one of only 31 facilities in the country to receive the Silver level award. The award will be presented to SBSC during AHCA/NCAL’s 62nd Annual Convention and Exposition, Sept. 18-21, 2011, in Las Vegas, Nev.

Learn more about St. Benedict's Senior Community

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