Jewish Geriatric Services Recognized for Quality Improvement

LONGMEADOW — Demonstrating a commitment to quality care for the frail, elderly, and disabled, Jewish Geriatric Services (JGS) received a Step II award for quality achievement from the American Health Care Assoc. (AHCA) and the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL).

Jewish Geriatric Services was honored for this achievement during AHCA/NCAL’s 59th annual Convention and Exposition, held recently in Nashville. Alan Rosenfeld, JGS president and CEO, and Linda Donoghue, JGS chief operating officer, attended the conference to receive the award. The system was one of only 23 facilities in the nation to achieve this level of recognition within the AHCA/NCAL Quality Award program.

“The AHCA/NCAL Quality Awards are one of the preeminent recognitions of quality within the long-term care and assisted-living arenas,” Rosenfeld said. “By receiving this award, the staff and leadership at JGS have demonstrated their commitment to quality care and meeting the needs of our residents. We congratulate all our employees and board members for receiving this honor and thank them for their continual dedication to quality improvement.”

“Jewish Geriatric Services is at the forefront of the quality movement, and we applaud them for their efforts to incorporate processes which demonstrate enhanced quality,” stated AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Bruce Yarwood. “Quality improvement is a dynamic ongoing process, and Jewish Geriatric Services’ organizational and performance excellence results in exceptional care for their residents, and makes them a deserving recipient of one of this prestigious award.”

The AHCA/NCAL Quality Award is modeled after criteria from the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award, a leading recognition for quality achievement. The AHCA/NCAL award recognizes commitment to a continuous quality-improvement process at nursing facilities, assisted-living residences, and residences for people with developmental disabilities. The facilities selected have made customer satisfaction and quality outcomes their top priority. The Step II recognition has been awarded to 104 other organizations since its inception.

Jewish Geriatric Services is a health care system serving elders and their families. Programs operated by JGS subsidiaries include the Julian J. Leavitt Family Jewish Nursing Home, Spectrum Home Health and Hospice Care, Ruth’s House – An Assisted Living Residence, Wernick Adult Day Health Care Center, JGS Family Medical Care, and Genesis House.