CHOICE (Coalition of Homes Offering Independence and Community for Elders)

Contact Information
John Baer, President
jbaer@choice4culturechange.org
Website:  www.choice4culturechange.org

History

CHOICE was established as a 501 C-3 organization in 2008 with a Board of Directors and a Steering Committee consisting of administrators of person centered care homes, regulators, executives of state and regional nursing home associations, the state long-term care ombudsman, gerontologists, as well as other culture change stakeholders.

• On June 7, 2011 CHOICE presented a full day conference entitled Person-Centered Care: Putting Life into Nursing Homes at Teresian House in Albany, NY  attended by administrators, directors of nursing, activity directors, food service directors, social workers, and finance directors among others from all around the state of New York. There was a faculty of 12 including Sue Misiorski, Rose Marie Fagan, and Sister Pauline Brecanier. One of the most interesting presentations was delivered by Brian Bedard, Executive Vice President of Apple Rehab, a proprietary chain of 20 nursing homes in New England, that transitioned to person centered care more than a dozen years ago. In his presentation he documented how Apple Rehab has enjoyed a positive financial success as a result of abandoning traditional care and embracing person centered care.
• In June, we  also launched a new website www.choice4culturechange.org
  

Contact Information
Rhonda Rotterman
716-481-7682
rrotterman@aol.com

For more information, visit our web site at www.wnyapcc.comThe Western New York Alliance for Person-Centered Care (WNYAPCC) is the first community-wide initiative of its kind in the U.S. aimed at transforming the way nursing homes and senior care providers deliver care to elders. This initiative, launched in 2008, is made possible by a grant from The John R. Oishei Foundation, Buffalo, N.Y.

Person-centered care is a journey that moves decision-making directly to the elders and their care partners, integrating all aspects of daily life in which elders can truly thrive and grow as individuals.

WNYAPCC is actively working with a number of providers, health care executives, educators, regulators and policy makers, in advancing person-centered care concepts in the Western New York region and beyond. They continue to provide several educational programs and conferences across the states to drive the message of person-centered care forward. There has been significant progress on political and regulatory guidance, curricula modifications and involving institutions of higher learning regarding person-centered care values and practices.

The alliance is focused on providing education, information and motivation so that organizations, facilities and those serving the elder populations may successfully begin and continue their culture change journey.

Person-centered care is critical as we face the challenges of an aging population in our communities. Person-centered care is vital for elders who currently reside in communal living environments, for caregivers and workforce retention, for families, for development efforts and to remain in compliance with regulatory requirements.

Major Activities This Year

• Leadership development training was conducted at three nursing home across the region involving seventy-two (72) participants. In the next fiscal year four additional homes with an estimated one hundred twenty-five (125) participants.
• From October 2010 to September 2011, the Alliance facilitated the training of two hundred ten (210) participants across fifty-eight (58) WNY organizations, whose care partners have now been trained in person-centered care.
• Coordinated quarterly conference calls with the New York State Department of Health surveyor team and providers across WNY on questions specifically related to person-centered care. These questions and responses can be seen on the Alliance website (www.wnyapcc.com).
• Developed a Facebook page and LinkedIn profile to further enhance the online experience and to push people to the Alliance website; Facebook page has 147 "likes"
• Web site www.wnyapcc.com is updated on a continuing basis with new state and national resource material, culture change training sessions; it also provides membership information, email signup and other tools for outreach to potential stakeholders. In 2010-2011, there were nearly double amount of visits compared to the same time period in 2009-2010; nearly triple the number of page views; and double the amount of absolute unique visitors (nearly half of the visitors to the website are new visitors). Four other countries have visited the site and utilized the video presentations from the 2010 conference as well as resources for starting person-centered care within their organizations.
• The Alliance blog, http://wnyapccblog.com, averages about 227 visits monthly. It has featured a wide range of topics – i.e. dealing with dementia residents, workforce training and quality of life issues. Regional as well as nationally-known culture change experts are blog contributors.
• Monthly newsletter is distributed to listserv of more than 800 recipient
• Developed a site for WNYAPCC members only, featuring a discussion forum and best practices
• Updated the Alliance web site with new Quality Indicator Survey (QIS) tools to use with quality assurance programs and the annual survey process directly linked to the new Federal guidance and PCC initiatives
• Worked with the regional and State for-profit and not-for-profit associations in attempts to assemble collaboration between CMS, State and provider networks to drive PCC initiatives and streamline regulatory interpretation as it relates to PCC
• Reviewed the current certified nurse aide curricula used across New York State and added the new CMS guidance and appropriate terminology/language as it relates to PCC which will be sent to the State for implementation
• Met with area Senators, Council members and others involved in policy making regarding PCC initiatives.
• At the suggestion of State Senators developed a proposal together regarding our mission, objectives and strategic plan in an effort to secure funding from State resources.
• Collaborated with State Department of Health surveyors and State associations to drive operator/leadership change throughout the Region/State.
• Identified schools within the eight counties of western New York that teach professions in long term care. The committee also identified contacts within each school and began a process to incorporate PCC principles within their respective curricula. Niagara University School of Nursing will be the first to introduce both person centered care concepts and the corresponding leadership principles into their undergraduate program beginning in January 2012.
• Conducted focus groups of residents, families and community members. The purpose of the focus groups will be to assess the participant's understanding of person centered care and to identify the best approaches to reach and teach people in the community.

Contact Information
Janice Dabney
Janice.dabney@labormanagementproject.org
Website:  www.qualitycarecommunity.org

History:

• The QCC was created in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between 1199SEIU & the Association of Voluntary Nursing Homes in 2002 in New York City.  Its original mission was to study nursing care practices with the goal of providing appropriate care for each resident.
• November 2003: Held the first city-wide conference which attracted 300 staff from NYC voluntary nursing homes.
• Annual conferences regularly involve 500+ participants.  Speakers have included; Bonnie Kantor, Mary Jane Koren, Larry Minnix, Steve Shields, Sue Misiorski, Joann Rader, Barbara Frank, Cathie Brady and other national leaders
• Representatives from following organizations have attended and/or made presentations at QCC conferences: IPRO (NY State QIO), Long Term Care Community Coalition, Alzheimers Association, FRIA (Friends & Relatives of Institutionalized Aged), CIAD (Coalition of Institutionalized & Aged Disabled)
• Nursing home residents & families have participated in QCC events
• 2005 – Participated in St. Louis Accord, sponsored by CMS & Pioneer Network
• 2005: Created a Field Guide ("Labor Management Approaches to Person-Centered Care") to present best practices in relation to: Organizational Models, Work Redesign, Team Development & Recruitment & Retention
• 2006-08: Grant from the Commonwealth Fund entitled "A Labor-Management Partnership for Person-Centered Care in Nursing Homes: A Case Study", Christine Bishop, Ph.D. from Brandeis University was the Principle Investigator
• Established website; created "Community" periodic newsletter to broadly share information about QCC activities.
• In 2007-08, the "New Models of Person Centered Care" project supported pilot projects in 16 nursing homes, focusing on innovations related to dining, bathing and work design.
• In 2009 – conducted a series of learning forums throughout NYC on "Pressure Ulcers".  A "Collective Bargaining Agreement Committee" was established to research new job titles, descriptions and work designs. This group will develop recommendations for changes to existing agreements.
• In 2010 Learning Forums held throughout NYC on Person-Centered Dining – based on the Pioneer Webinar series.  Developed recommendations that were shared with CMS.  Additional educational sessions were conducted on the Green House model of care and Pain Management
• In Dec. 2010 organized conference, "MDS 3 – Beyond the Form" facilitated by Barbara Frank and Cathie Brady.  CMS and NY State Department of Health officials provided additional information about the QIS survey process.
• Have sent a delegation of union and management staff to every Pioneer Conference since 2002.  QCC facilities are regular workshop presenters at Pioneer conferences.  Have been a participating sponsor since 2008.
• QCC members have presented at Leading Age national conference, ASA national conference, Pioneer Conference
  

Organizational Structure:

The QCC is guided by a Steering Committee that consists of equal numbers of Union and Management leaders.  The co-leaders are the President of the Continuing Care Leadership Coalition and the Nursing Home Division of 1199SEIU.  The Steering Committee meets 4 times per year, establishes overall goals and sub-committees to conduct activities.  QCC activities are open to all facilities that participate in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.  Staff support to the QCC is provided by the Labor Management Project, a department within the 1199SEIU Training & Employment Funds.

Funding:

Funding for QCC activities is established through the Collective Bargaining Agreement.  In 2006-08 we received a research grant from the Commonwealth Fund.

Current Activities:

• In May 2011 launched our MDS 3 Learning Collaborative, with facilitation from B & F Consulting.
• Conducted Learning Forums on Performance Improvement.
• Participated in launch of national MDS 3 Learning Collaborative at Pioneer Conference (2 QCC facilities were featured presenters)
• Discussions about impact on national Health Care Reform and NY State Medicaid Redesign Team recommendations on person-centered care.
• QCC facilities participated in study on "Staff Turnover and Stability in New York Nursing Homes" (Nicholas Castle, Ph.D. – Principle Investigator); sponsored by Commonwealth Fund.