Quality can be a fairly ambiguous word. How do you know your facility’s quality is improving? What indicators should you measure? The second step of Quality First, Keeping the Promise’s 7-5-5 Plan articulates five Vital Signs that every facility should monitor when looking to improve quality. By monitoring these Vital Signs, organizations can pinpoint the areas to focus improvement efforts. Strength in each indicator signifies a well-rounded, quality-driven long term care facility. 

1. Resident, patient and family satisfaction. The focal point of any quality measure is the residents, patients and their families. Monitoring their satisfaction offers providers insight into the effectiveness of every organizational process.
2. Staff satisfaction. Employees who feel fulfilled and happy in their employment and job responsibilities are more invested in their career, in the future of the organization, and in the patients and residents they care for. Monitoring staff satisfaction rates and working to improve these indicators can help an organization increase quality throughout the facility.
3. Staff retention and turnover. Retaining staff members closely correlates with the quality of care, clinical and regulatory outcomes, consumer satisfaction, and overall organizational performance.
4. Federal survey compliance. The government conducts onsite surveys to hold facilities accountable. Positive results and continuous improvement on these surveys shows a facility is on the right track.
5. CMS quality measure performance. Monitoring the clinical element of long term care facilities is a vital protocol, as it directly impacts the health status and quality of life for patients and residents.