CARIBOU – The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living recently recognized Maine Veterans’ Homes in Caribou for achieving national quality goals. MVH-Caribou was one of only three senior care facilities in Maine to receive Tier IV recognition in the 2014 AHCA/NCAL Quality Initiative, a national effort focused on improving care in skilled nursing centers and assisted living communities.
Contributed photo
The Maine Veterans’ Home in Caribou was recently recognized by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living for achieving national quality goals, and was one of only three senior care facilities in Maine to earn the honor. Displaying the award are MVH representatives, from left: Ryan Cavagnaro, environmental services supervisor; Patty Craig, human resource manager; Karen Page, activities supervisor; Melissa Graham, administrator; Dawn Gagnon, nurse manager; Julie Lizotte, director of nursing services; Jonathan Smith, clinical coordinator; Judi Pimental, residential care director; Rea Caldwell, staff development coordinator; Katina Ouellette, social services supervisor.
To achieve Tier IV recognition, MVH-Caribou had to meet or exceed all program goals and demonstrate a commitment to quality. The quality initiative program’s four goals are: reducing hospital readmissions, reducing antipsychotics, increasing customer satisfaction and increasing staff retention.
“Maine Veterans’ Homes is incredibly proud of our Caribou staff for this accomplishment,” said Deb Fournier, chief operating officer of Maine Veterans’ Homes. “We are committed to delivering the highest quality care to Maine veterans and their spouses, and the quality initiative program recognizes our successful teamwork and efforts towards achieving excellence.”
“[Tier IV recipients] are helping to shine a spotlight on the progress being made by providers of long term and post-acute services nationwide,” said David Gifford, MD, MPH, senior vice president of quality and regulatory affairs at AHCA/NCAL. “They have devoted themselves to changing practice to achieve these goals and exemplified what the quality initiative is ultimately about – improving the lives of the individuals we serve.”
The Maine Veterans’ Homes organization was created by the 108th Maine Legislature in 1977 as a public nonprofit to provide support and care to Maine’s eligible veterans and family members. Its mission statement is “Caring for those who served.”
“MVH is recognized as a leader among the nation’s system of state veteran homes for quality of care, service and innovation. Our success can be directly attributed to our staff’s unwavering commitment to our mission and core values in caring for Maine’s veterans,” Fournier said.
For more information please call 1-800-278-9494 or visit www.MaineVets.org.
