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October 4-7, 2009

Stonebrook Healthcare Center To Be Awarded National Award in Recognition Of Continuous Quality Improvement In Long Term Care

Stonebrook Healthcare Center in Concord, CA has been recognized as one of the 2009 recipients of the Step I National Quality Award presented by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). This year 664 nursing and assisted living facilities from across the nation applied for the quality award at this level. Stonebrook Healthcare Center was one of 435 facilities to receive the award. Awards will be presented during AHCA/NCAL's 60th Annual Convention and Exposition, October 4-7, 2009 in Chicago, IL.

"We applaud Stonebrook Healthcare Center for having passed this first step that demonstrates their intention to begin a rigorous quality improvement program, and look forward to their moving forward to pursue the requirements for the Steps II and III awards in the coming years," stated Bernie Dana, Chair, AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Board of Overseers, one of the nine members that oversee the program.

Applicants for the Step I level award have a clear vision and mission for their facility and acknowledge key challenges that are embodied in the organizational profile section of the Baldrige criteria. The Step I award recognizes providers that have developed a foundation to begin a journey of continuous quality improvement, and that they have taken the first step in corresponding with any public measures of performance.

AHCA/NCAL is a trade organization with approximately 11,000 members. Since 1996 AHCA/NCAL has used the concepts of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award as the basis for its three step program for the long term care profession. At the Step I level, applications are reviewed by Examiners who have received special training to qualify as judges for the award program.

The awards are sponsored by AHCA/NCAL Associate Business Member McKesson Medical-Surgical, a leading distributor of medical supplies and equipment to physician practices, surgery centers, hospitals, home care, and extended care facilities, and My InnerView, a Web-based applied research and quality-management company that supports leaders across the entire assisted living, senior housing and skilled nursing profession with tools to measure, benchmark and improve performance.