National Campaign Under Way to Preserve Quality Care
Few would argue that quality care for Medicare and Medicaid recipients is crucial. But with the federal government and states struggling with budget cuts some legislators are eyeing reduced spending in both programs — a move that could jeopardize some of the most vulnerable people in need of skilled nursing or long-term care.
To ensure that care is not compromised, a nationwide petition tour and grassroots campaign is under way to urge the President, Congress and America’s governors to take steps to protect America’s long-term and rehabilitative care services. The campaign, called Driving for Quality Care, is sponsored by the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living.
To call attention to the problem, buses are touring 40 states, including Florida. The campaign, both through those tours and online, is providing patients, residents, family members, caregivers and citizens a chance to voice their concerns and tell their own stories. Do you have a story to share?
Summer 2010
Whitehall Braced for a Busy 2010 Hurricane Season
Every year around this time, Whitehall gets a lot of questions about the threat of hurricanes and the facility's readiness. They're legitimate questions and perhaps no more than this year, in which experts project an exceptionally busy hurricane season.Whitehall Braced for a Busy 2010 Hurricane Season
Every year around this time, Whitehall gets a lot of questions about the threat of hurricanes and the facility's readiness. They're legitimate questions and perhaps no more than this year, in which experts project an exceptionally busy hurricane season.
In fact, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts the season will be “active to extremely active.” Officials there calculate a 70 percent probability of 14-23 named storms — 8 to 14 of them official hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or greater.
Anyone who watched the horrific TV broadcasts of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 or experienced Hurricane Wilma's march through South Florida in October 2005 knows the power of these storms.
At Whitehall, however, residents and their families can rest easy. Whitehall's hurricane protection far exceeds state standards, making the building a virtual fortress. Here are the measures we have in place:
- Two powerful generators to ensure storms do not dim our lights, interrupt air conditioning, or interfere with laundry or kitchen services.
- Maximized window protection with Armor ScreenŽ, an advanced product that allows light in but can protect against even rare Category 5 storms — those that carry winds in excess of 155 miles per hour.
- Satellite telephone service to make certain communications can be maintained with the outside world under nearly any circumstances.
- Staff coverage with special training in hurricane response.
Just as importantly, Executive Director Steve Mulder not only monitors developments in advance of a storm, but personally stays on the premises with residents until all threats have passed.
The official hurricane season, which began June 1, continues through Nov. 30. Whitehall is ready.
Summer 2010
Celebrating Earth Day 2010 Every Day of the Year
Officially, Earth Day 2010 is April 21. At Whitehall Boca, it’s an important day but only one day out of the year that we do our best to adhere to the highest environmental standards for our planet. We recycle cardboard, soda cans, and shredded paper as part of a cumulative effort to preserve the environment. Among our other, routine efforts:
- Freshly planted flowers and trees in our garden area
- Printing handouts and other material on two sides of paper
- Printing e-mails only when necessary
- Turning off computers at night
- Turning off office lights at the end of every day
- Using plastic utensils only when necessary
To encourage active participation on those and other levels, in recognition of Earth Day we’ve given each department a plant to decorate and care for. We’ll have a judging on May 21.
To learn more about Earth Day and what you can do, visit the official Earth Day web site and get involved.
Spring 2010
We’re Pleased to Introduce our New Director of Nursing
Whitehall Boca is pleased to welcome Sherry Thomas as its new director of nursing. She joined our facility in December after previously holding several management positions in long-term care over the course of her 24-year career as a registered nurse.
Sherry, RN, BS, LRHM, CDON/LTC, brings to Whitehall far more than a lengthy list of credentials, however. She brings a passion rooted in her own experiences with medical calamity.
“I knew I wanted to become a nurse after my father suffered a stroke while I was in high school,” she said. “My dad —my hero —was unable to walk and his speech was garbled. His stroke was devastating for our family, but the care and caring his nurses and therapists displayed helped us cope more effectively. The technical aspects of his care were important, but the ‘caring’ aspects of his care made such a difference to my father and to our entire family. His nurses and therapists were ‘healers.’ ”
Sherry received her B.S. in Public Health Education from Indiana University in 1978 and then pursued her lifelong dream to become a registered nurse, which she accomplished in 1986. Her career began as a staff nurse and over time included roles as unit manager, assistant director of nursing, director of nursing, case manager, director of risk management and staff educator. She also recently achieved certification in long-term care as a member of the National Association Directors of Nursing Administration and the Florida Association Directors of Nursing Administration.
That background, that experience, those attributes—all perfectly positioned Sherry to lead Whitehall’s nursing staff with professionalism and the care in which Whitehall prides itself. In the end, it really is about passion.
Says Sherry, “My passion for nursing has never waned. There aren’t many professions that allow us to touch the lives of so many people and for our lives to be touched so often. Yes, nursing is hard work and there are never enough hours in the day to do all that we hope to do for our patients. It is during those difficult moments when I realize that my worst day is never as bad as the days my patients have to endure during their illnesses. I’m grateful to be part of this wonderful Whitehall family, which is all about our family taking care of other people’s families.”
Spring 2010
Whitehall Helps Bring Holiday Cheer to Those Who Need it Most
Holidays have always been a time of giving and a time of sharing. This year, Whitehall is particularly proud to be a participant in collecting toys for the Toys for Tots Foundation and in sponsoring the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America — both part of its extended community family. The two organizations are recognized as national leaders in bringing cheer and hope to children through donations by individuals, companies, and communities. Whitehall is also collecting cell phones for the Cell Phones for Soldiers organization, whose program turns old cell phones into prepaid calling cards so that no G.I. is denied an opportunity to stay in touch with family.
Winter 2009
Whitehall Honored with “2009 NAHCA Facility of the Year” Award
The National Association of Health Care Assistants named Whitehall Boca Raton 2009 “Facility of the Year” during the association's 15th annual “Key to Quality” awards banquet held Sept. 17 in Kansas City, Missouri. Whitehall was chosen from more than 500 NAHCA member facilities. Criteria for being named Facililty of the Year included demonstration of innovative programs, continual education, professional development opportunities, teamwork, and person-centered care.
The Washington, D.C.-based NAHCA is a non-profit organization working to ensure that the highest quality of care is provided to elders living in nursing homes, achieved by elevating the professional standing and performance of facility staff caregivers.
What does that really mean? Well, at Whitehall the primary facility staff caregivers are the certified nursing assistants who perform as the front-line staff with patients. They deliver much of the personal and physical care to patients, performing such tasks as bathing, oral care, and generally taking care of them in all those ways that deliver comfort and physical care.
Not surprisingly, patients typically bond most quickly with their nursing assistants because the nursing assistants are the people who interact the most with patients. Indeed, nursing assistants are the hands-on people who respond when the call light is turned on by a patient and then take care of the patient’s needs. Of course, if a patient's needs are beyond the scope of a nursing assistant's practice, they get a nurse to step in. For instance, some tasks beyond a nursing assistant's scope include getting pain medication, calling a doctor, or performing a skilled need such as insulin monitoring or injection, and making dressing changes.
“We are so proud of this award,” said Whitehall Boca Administrator Gilda Osborn. “Our staff is the best and they're what really make Whitehall different from corporate-run facilities. They genuinely care about our residents and the care they receive.”
That Whitehall's front-line team of nursing assistants performed with consistent standards high enough to help bring in an award that topped 500 facilities is significant, and those standards are no accident. All of the certified nursing assistants at Whitehall go through specialized customer service training, as well as annual in-services by social services on the importance of communication skills and interaction with patients and families.
Fall 2009
Protecting Patients and Staff During the 2009-2010 Flu Season
Flu season is an annual occurrence that strikes all parts of the country and typically is more threatening for the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. This year, in addition to the regular flu virus, medical authorities are also tracking a widespread outbreak of a flu known as the “H1N1” flu virus — more commonly known as the “swine flu.” Two flu strains occurring simultaneously make the 2009-2010 flu season unique from previous seasons and requires more diligence than ever before. Also, because the swine flu virus is very different from the seasonal strain, two separate vaccines are required.
Residents at Whitehall Boca can rest assured that the facility has the situation well in hand.
“We know that between the regular flu season and the potential for swine flu, people might be more concerned than usual about our policies in seeing that patients who want vaccines are properly immunized, said Whitehall Administrator Gilda Osborn. “We understand, and in fact, this year we made a point of getting a month's head start on offering the seasonal flu vaccine.” The earlier start was put in place because medical authorities identified that the flu season was beginning earlier than usual. “We're on top of it and will stay diligent throughout the flu season,” Osborn said.
U.S. government medical authorities are still sorting out how best to distribute swine flu vaccines. Whitehall will act accordingly when those decisions have been finalized and instructions issued.
As is true for every regular flu year, both residents and employees are encouraged to be vaccinated. No one is charged a fee. However, those who elect vaccinations must sign consent forms. And, because some patients may not be appropriate candidates for flu vaccines — such as those who are allergic to eggs — written orders by patients’ doctors are also required.
To prevent the spread of flu viruses, Whitehall’s staff members are instructed on specific precautionary procedures, including proper hand washing, cough etiquette, and other sanitizing methods. They are likewise trained to be alert to possible flu symptoms. Whitehall also has liquid hand sanitizers in hallways and restrooms. Residential rooms are outfitted with soap dispensers as well. Of course, after vaccinations are given, residents are monitored for 24 to 48 hours for mild reactions. More acute reactions are immediately reported to a physician.
Whitehall’s policies are governed by the guidelines issued by both the state Department of Health and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommendations from the CDC are also followed for administering the pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine to appropriate candidates.
Fall 2009
Whitehall Participates in Two FAU Research Programs
Research is important in identifying and helping to curb a variety of ailments. To further some new efforts, Whitehall in 2009 received a $20,000 grant from the New York-based Pfizer Company to work in conjunction with Florida Atlantic University for a study on incontinence in the elderly. The program, coordinated through Dr. Joseph G. Ouslander, an associate dean and professor in biomedical science, is intended to improve initial assessments, quality control monitoring and data collection, and better outcomes upon discharge to improve patient urinary tract infections.
Whitehall, whose rate of urinary tract infections is well below the national average, is an active participant in the study so that medical facilities and practitioners everywhere can one day benefit from improved methods.
Another initiative in which Whitehall is involved concerns a Florida Atlantic University study through which Whitehall will educate nurses using special algorithms to assist them in timely recognition and reporting of symptoms to medical doctors. The goal is to reduce the number of avoidable hospitalizations and improve communication with physicians.
Both research studies are ongoing projects expected to continue through at least 2009.
Spring 2009
Medical Director Recognized by Consumer Research Council
Dr. Owen Barruw, Whitehall Boca's medical director since 1999, was recently recognized by Consumers Research Council of America as one of America's top phyicians for the fourth consecutive year. As medical director, Dr. Barruw plays an instrumental role in shepherding our operations by serving as primary medical advisor to our governing body, program personnel, and to patients and their families. His function is broad and important to us, and we thought you'd want to know about the important distinction he received.
Summer 2007
State Program Honors Whitehall with 4 Awards
Florida Medical Quality Assurance, Inc. presented Whitehall Boca Raton with four honors during its April 15 “Best Practices Sharing Dinner and Awards Ceremony” for South Florida facilities. In addition to receiving recognition for its participation in FMQAI’s three-year project to improve the quality of care for residents, Whitehall was lauded for its participation in the quality measure project (pressure sores.)
Even more significantly, of some twenty facilities in attendance at the dinner, Whitehall received an award for the most significant improvement in quality measures for restraint reduction and another for the management of chronic pain. The awards are based not on opinion, but on actual data compiled by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and readily available for the public on the Medicare web site.
Whitehall Boca Raton, long a leader in quality care for residents, elected to participate in the program last summer to further its commitment to seeing that every resident receives the most thoughtful, thorough, and advanced care available.
For more information about the FMQAI program, part of a national program to improve patient care in nursing facilities, please see the article below.
Spring 2004
Whitehall Boca Joins National Effort to Improve Quality Care
Whitehall Boca Raton, along with nursing homes across Florida and the nation, is participating in the Nursing Home Quality Initiative (NHQI), recently launched by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The NHQI combines health care quality information for consumers, and new educational resources for nursing homes to improve the quality of care for all residents.
Whitehall Boca Raton is enthusiastic about the new program to improve resident care. “Our mission has always been about providing the best care possible to our residents,” said Steve Mulder, Whitehall's executive director since the facility opened in 1982. “We're excited about the new resources available to assist us in bringing quality of care to a new level. The national focus gives us an opportunity to share information and learn from other facilities about improving our quality of care.”
Florida Medical Quality Assurance, Inc. (FMQAI), in collaboration with numerous long-term care associations and advocacy groups, is providing no-cost educational and technical assistance to Whitehall Boca Raton and other Florida nursing homes. FMQAI is Florida's Medicare quality improvement organization.
As part of the NHQI, Medicare is providing information about nursing home quality to consumers to help them make informed decisions. This information is available at the (go to "Nursing Home Compare"), or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). By accessing this information, consumers can learn about quality measures — such as the incidence of pain, pressure sores and the use of physical restraints — for any facility in the state or across the country.
Whitehall Boca Raton encourages residents and family members to discuss these measures or any other questions about quality of care with its staff.
Summer 2003
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