Bethany Retirement Living’s two campuses in Fargo have both been recognized as 2019 recipients of the Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) for their commitment to improving the lives of residents through quality care. The distinction is the first of three progressive award levels through the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program. The program, presented by the leading association in long term and post-acute care, honors association members across the country that have demonstrated their dedication to improving quality of care for seniors and persons with disabilities.
“This recognition of the outstanding care we provide our residents at both Bethany on University and Bethany on 42nd helps us stay on-track as we continually strive to improve services for our residents,” said Shawn Stuhaug, President/CEO at Bethany Retirement Living. “It allows us to compare ourselves against others in our market, as well as statewide and nationally. We are very proud of the work our employees do to care for the residents and patients at Bethany.”
The National Quality Award Program, established by AHCA/NCAL in 1996, is based on the core values and criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, which also serves as the foundation for the metric-based AHCA/NCAL Quality Initiative. The Baldrige framework helps organizations among different business sectors improve organizational effectiveness and achieve strategy-driven performance.
The Award Program has three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Providers begin the quality improvement process at the Bronze level, where they develop an organizational profile with essential performance elements such as vision, mission statement, and key strengths and challenges. Bronze applicants must also demonstrate their ability to implement a performance improvement system. Trained Examiners review each Bronze application to determine if the center has met the demands of the criteria. As a recipient of the Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award, Bethany Retirement Living may now move forward in developing approaches and achieving performance levels that meet the Silver – Achievement in Quality Award criteria.
“I applaud Bethany Retirement Living for taking this important step towards quality improvement,”said the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Board of Overseers Chair Alana Wolfe. “I encourage Bethany Retirement Living to continue on its path to achieving the highest of quality care.”
The awards will be presented during AHCA/NCAL’s 70th Convention & Expo in Orlando, Florida, October 13-16, 2019.
Bethany Retirement Living was founded in Fargo in 1939 and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Bethany operates two campuses in Fargo and provides high-quality care to the elderly in skilled nursing, memory care, rehabilitation, transitional care, assisted living, basic care, senior apartments, and personal care programs.