An Agenda to Deliver on Our Promise
Quality First: An Agenda to Deliver on Our Promise builds upon the foundation that was laid with the landmark, profession-led Quality First initiative in 2002. This renewed effort is about reaching a level of quality with a clear defi nition of success, measurable outcomes, continuous improvements, and progress that is apparent to consumers. It’s working! Quality is improving in several key areas, and many experts attribute this to our collective commitment to improved quality through programs such as Quality First that help guide the way.
As is highlighted in the 
AHCA/Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care 2009 Annual Quality Report, a survey completed by nearly 6,500 members indicated that “the majority of facilities use many of the elements of the Quality First program as a way to frame their efforts to improve quality.” The report continues to state that 90 percent of respondents “discovered that systematically evaluating resident and employee satisfaction data improved quality.”
Quality First represents AHCA’s heightened commitment to enhance quality in our nation’s long term and post-acute care facilities. It helps providers, facility leaders, and staff achieve new milestones in the areas of quality of care, quality of life, and staff retention. Most importantly, it will focus on the essential priorities as defi ned by our customers.
Striving Toward & Sustaining New Levels of Quality
Fostering real improvements in quality that are recognized by consumers, policy makers, facility leaders and staff alike are the objectives of this dynamic initiative. The goals of Quality First: An Agenda to Deliver on Our Promise are:
- Improve & sustain performance in all CMS Quality Measures
- Improve & sustain compliance with the federal survey process
- Improve & sustain high rates of consumer (resident and family) satisfaction
- Improve & sustain high staff satisfaction rates
- Improve & sustain leadership to improve staff retention and turnover rates
Benefits of Pursuing the Quality First Promise
Facilities that pursue the objectives of Quality First: An Agenda to Deliver on Our Promise will see measurable benefits such as:
- Improved consumer satisfaction rates
- Improved Five Star ratings
- Improved reputation
- Improved marketing capabilities
- Improved staff satisfaction rates
- Improved retention
- Improved census and case mix
- Better bottom line performance