East Longmeadow Skilled Nursing Center Receives National Award

EAST LONGMEADOW — The American Health Care Assoc. and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) recently announced the selection of East Longmeadow Skilled Nursing Center as a recipient of the 2016 Silver – Achievement in Quality Award for its outstanding performance in the healthcare profession.

East Longmeadow is one of only three facilities in Massachusetts, and one of only 72 in the nation, selected to receive the Silver Award in 2016. The competitive award program highlights select centers across the nation that serve as models of excellence in providing high-quality long-term care.

“We are proud to have received the Silver Award, and we’re pleased that an independent panel of examiners saw the high value we place on quality care and service excellence,” said Michael Marcus, administrator at East Longmeadow Skilled Nursing Center, which is an affiliate of Berkshire Healthcare. “Our focus at East Longmeadow has always been on people. We want to continue to evolve our quality care and service to even greater heights.”

Added Bill Jones, president of Berkshire Healthcare, “we congratulate the entire East Longmeadow team on this achievement. It’s a great example of how we are advancing quality across our affiliates with more and more Berkshire facilities earning recognition for quality care.”

Fifteen of Berkshire’s skilled-nursing and assisted-living facilities have earned the Bronze Award from AHCA/NCAL, 13 have also reached the Silver level, and two hold the distinction of the Gold Award, the highest level in the program.

“It takes incredible dedication and passion to successfully apply the demands of the criteria,” said Christine Boldt, chair of the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award board of overseers. “I applaud East Longmeadow Skilled Nursing Center for reaching this level and for its commitment to always improve.”

As a recipient of this year’s award, East Longmeadow can now advance in developing approaches that meet the criteria required for the Gold – Excellence in Quality Award. The awards will be presented to honorees on Oct. 18 during AHCA/NCAL’s 67th annual Convention & Expo in Nashville, Tenn.