Covering everything from personal stories to quality award winners, these articles were the top five most viewed on ANHA.org in 2015. While the topics vary, the common thread that binds them together is showing how Alabama nursing homes provide compassionate care to the people they serve.
We also give you an update on what’s happened since we first reported the news. Click on the title to read the original article. Links to other information are included throughout the countdown.
Click here if you to find out which articles were ranked 6-10.
#5. 12 Alabama Nursing Homes Earn Customer Satisfaction Awards
A dozen nursing homes earned Excellence in Action Awards from My InnerView by National Research Corporation. Each award winner scored in the top 10% in the U.S. on customer and/or workforce satisfaction. These awards are part of the Alabama Nursing Home Association’s 10-year partnership with National Research to better understand the needs and expectations of nursing home residents and employees. Also, Alabama nursing homes continue to exceed national customer satisfaction rates.
Update: Alabama nursing homes recently completed the 2015 edition of My InnerView by National Research Corporation’s Customer Satisfaction Survey. Results are expected in early 2016.
#4. Southern Alabama Nursing Home Achieves High Marks on Recent Inspection
West Gate Village staff members.
Located in the South Alabama town of Brewton, West Gate Village earned a perfect score on its annual inspection by the Alabama Department of Public Health. A team of inspectors declared the center to be “deficiency free”, which means it met all of the government’s expectations.
Update: Mark Manning is now a regional administrator for Crowne Health Care, the parent company of West Gate Village. Trenton McInnish in the center’s new administrator. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration from Auburn University, and became a licensed nursing home administrator in January 2015.
#3. Tuscaloosa Nursing Home Resident Featured in National Magazine
From left to right: Heritage Health Care & Rehab registered nursing Traci Junkins and Heritage Health Care & Rehab resident Polly Kyles.
We met Polly Kyles in March, not long after she was interviewed by U.S. News & World Report. Polly’s story was told in reporter Kristine Crane’s article “Why One Woman Feels ‘Blessed’ to Live in a Nursing Home.” Polly told the reporter, “I feel like I’m on a mission to encourage people to make the best of their lives.”
Update: Staff at Polly’s nursing center, Heritage Health Care & Rehab, say she is still going strong and favorite activity is cooking. Polly rolls out the dough and makes chicken n’ dumplings the old fashioned way. Also, Polly’s daughter, Traci Junkins, continues to work at the center as a registered nurse.
#2. Best Practice Nominees Improve Nursing Home Care
Any announcement surrounding Alabama’s Best Practices usually creates a lot of “buzz.” This article announcing the 21 nursing homes nominated for their unique best practice took home the prize as the second most read article of 2015. You can learn more about the presenters, honorable mention recipients and see a photo gallery at the Alabama’s Best Practices webpage: anha.org/bp.
Update: Alabama’s Best Practices 2016 will be held August 25 at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center in Birmingham. Director Pam Penland says next year’s theme will be “New York, New York.” A new feature for the 2016 program will be a special time to recognize honorable mention award recipients.
#1. Seven Alabama Nursing Home Receive National Quality Awards
Our most popular story of 2015 recognized national achievement in providing high quality health care. At the American Health Care Association’s (AHCA) 66th Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas, one Alabama nursing home received the Silver – Achievement in Quality Award and six others received the Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award. These seven nursing homes set the pace for improving health care and spreading the good news about the long-term care profession.
Update: Increasing participation in the AHCA National Quality Award Program is one of the Alabama Nursing Home Association’s (ANHA) strategic goals for 2016. Newly elected ANHA board member Chris Schmidt said he plans to encourage more nursing homes to apply for quality awards. Winners of the 2016 National Quality Award will be recognized at AHCA’s 67th Annual Convention & Expo in Nashville, Tennessee in October.
Editor’s Note: The rankings were determined by the number of page views of each article from January 1-December 4, 2015. Articles related to the Ms. Alabama Nursing Home Pageant were excluded.
