Local Retirement Community Recognized Nationally for Excellence

JUNO BEACH, Florida – The health center at The Waterford retirement community has been recognized as a 2019 recipient of the Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) for its commitment to improving the lives of residents through quality care. The distinction is the first of three progressive award levels through the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program. The program, presented by the leading association in long-term and post-acute care, honors association members across the country that have demonstrated their dedication to improving quality of care for seniors and persons with disabilities.

“We’re incredibly proud of the entire Waterford team for their hard work and dedication in achieving this milestone,” said Amin Sanaia, administrator at the health center at The Waterford. “We’re committed to excellence and innovation, and will continue to anticipate the needs of our residents and exceed expectations as we continue on our mission within the Lifespace Communities family of creating communities celebrating the lives of seniors.”

The National Quality Award Program, established by AHCA/NCAL in 1996, is based on the core values and criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, which also serves as the foundation for the metric-based AHCA/NCAL Quality Initiative. The Baldrige framework helps organizations among different business sectors improve organizational effectiveness and achieve strategy-driven performance.

The Award Program has three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Providers begin the quality improvement process at the Bronze level, where they develop an organizational profile with essential performance elements such as vision, mission statement, and key strengths and challenges. Bronze applicants must also demonstrate their ability to implement a performance improvement system. Trained examiners review each Bronze application to determine if the center has met the demands of the criteria. As a recipient of the Bronze - Commitment to Quality Award, the health center at The Waterford may now move forward in developing approaches and achieving performance levels that meet the Silver - Achievement in Quality Award criteria.

“I applaud the health center at The Waterford for taking this important step toward quality improvement,” said the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Board of Overseers Chair Alana Wolfe. “I encourage them to continue on their path to achieving the highest of quality care.

The awards will be presented during AHCA/NCAL’s 70th Convention & Expo in Orlando, Florida, October 13-16, 2019.