ROCKLAND — The Knox Center for Long Term Care in Rockland was recognized by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) for achieving Tier 4 Recognition by reaching all four of the national quality goals set by AHCA/NCAL:

Safely reducing hospital readmissions within 30 days during a skilled nursing stay by 15 percent;

Increasing staff stability by reducing nursing staff turnover by 15 percent;

Achieving customer satisfaction, as evidenced by having 90 percent of residents and families willing to recommend their center to others, and;

Safely reducing the off-label use of antipsychotic medications by 15 percent. 

The Knox Center was one of only three facilities in Maine to achieve Tier 4 Recognition.

Carl Chadwick, administrator of the Knox Center for Long Term Care said in a news release: “Continuously improving the quality of care we provide is nothing new for Knox Center for Long Term Care.  However, once we saw these issues were a priority at the national level, we knew we had to redouble our efforts and ensure the proper processes were in place.

This was truly a team effort, with everyone focused on the goals and improving the lives of our residents.”

Announced in February 2012, the AHCA/ NCAL Quality Initiative aims to further improve the lives of individuals receiving care in long term and post-acute care centers by setting specific goals in four selected quality areas.

AHCA/ NCAL member centers that met these goals were identified using data from outside sources on readmissions and antipsychotic use, while national surveys were used to collect staff turnover and customer satisfaction data was submitted directly from members.

Knox Center for Long Term Care, as well as other achievers from across the country, will be honored at AHCA/NCAL’s upcoming Quality Symposium, taking place February 23-25 in Austin, Texas.

For more information about the AHCA/ NCAL Quality Initiative, visit qualityinitiative.ahcancal.org. 

The Knox Center for Long Term Care is an 84-bed long-term nursing home and skilled rehabilitation center, located at the site of the former Knox County General Hospital. Since 1975, the Knox Center for Long Term Care has been caring for members of Midcoast families and providing them with a loving home, where they receive both the sophisticated technical care they require and the dignity and respect they deserve. Specialized care is provided for residents with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of memory loss.

The Knox Center for Long Term Care is a member of the Pen Bay Healthcare family of services. Penbayhealthcare.org/knoxcenter.

The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) represent more than 12,000 non-profit and proprietary skilled nursing centers, assisted living communities, sub-acute centers and homes for individuals with intellectual and development disabilities. By delivering solutions for quality care, AHCA/NCAL aims to improve the lives of the millions of frail, elderly and individuals with disabilities who receive long term or post-acute care in our member facilities each day. For more information, visit www.ahca.org or www.ncal.org.