Quality First Covenant 

Covenant

The members of the American Health Care Association have a long history of delivering quality and continuously striving for performance excellence. In July 2002, this history gained significant momentum with the launching of the profession-wide initiative called Quality First. Joining AHCA in the commitment to Quality First are the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care and the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. Through this initiative, every AHCA member is united with long term care providers across the country in a single voice which articulates our promise and commitment to the American public and those we serve every day.

Through Quality First we are collectively and individually committed to healthy, affordable, and ethical long term care. We commit to achieving excellence in the quality of care and services for older persons and strengthening public trust. We recognize that confidence on the part of consumers and policy makers is lacking and must be restored. We are committed to taking bold and deliberate steps, embedded in the principles of this Covenant to ensure quality. We believe that by doing so, there will be measurable improvements in defined outcomes as well as in ethical, compassionate, and resident-centered practices in the provision of care for those who are frail, elderly, or disabled.

Quality First is rooted in seven principles that cultivate and nourish an environment of continuous quality improvement, openness and leadership. They are:

• Continuous Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement
• Public Disclosure and Accountability
• Patient/Resident and Family Rights
• Workforce Excellence
• Public Input and Community Involvement
• Ethical Practices and
• Financial Stewardship.

These principles are the anchors that recognize and validate what is important to those we serve. Six outcomes have been defined which demonstrate the profession’s results in meeting these needs. A national commission will report progress towards achieving these outcomes that provide the means for transparency and the confidence and trust of the public.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES by 2006:

• There will be continued improvement in compliance with federal regulations.
• There will be demonstrable progress in promoting financial integrity and preventing occurrences of fraud.
• There will be demonstrable progress in the quality of clinical outcomes and prevention of confirmed abuse and neglect.
• There will be measurable improvements in all Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Continuous Quality Improvement measures.
• High rates on consumer satisfaction surveys will indicate improved consumer satisfaction with services.
• There will be demonstrable improvement in employee retention and turnover
  rates.

By endorsing the Quality First Covenant and its principles and outcomes, providers forge a collective and constructive response to the challenges faced by the profession. Through this initiative, we will work in partnership with consumers and government to create an environment and a field of care and services in which consumers can feel confident that they are receiving the high quality care and service that they deserve.