Building a state coalition for nursing home excellence

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Geriatric Care
• Organizational Collaboration

Background:

• Nursing homes historically operated in silos, hindering comprehensive quality improvement efforts.
• A need existed to unite diverse stakeholders for a cohesive approach to enhancing elder care in Arkansas.
• The state coalition aimed to bridge organizational divides and foster a shared vision for nursing home excellence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and success of a state coalition focused on improving nursing home quality.
• To illustrate how diverse organizations can collaborate to implement culture change initiatives.
• To enhance the quality of care for residents in Arkansas's 240 nursing homes.

Main Methods:

• Convening stakeholders in 2004 to establish a common goal for improving elder care.
• Encouraging diverse organizational perspectives and collaborative problem-solving.
• Continuously refining coalition activities through goal reassessment, stakeholder engagement, and feedback loops.

Main Results:

• Coalition leaders effectively mobilized diverse stakeholders around a shared vision for quality improvement.
• Members demonstrated a growing willingness to share resources and present a unified voice.
• Successful implementation of culture change initiatives across 240 nursing homes.

Conclusions:

• Diverse stakeholders can effectively collaborate to improve the care system for the elderly.
• Statewide collaborative efforts are supported by policies encouraging regional provider coalitions.
• The coalition model provides a framework for enhancing the quality of care in long-term facilities.