LYNN — Life Care Center of the North Shore, a nursing and rehabilitation facility, recently received the 2022 Bronze National Quality Award from the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living — one of only two facilities in the state to win the bronze award this year.
The awards honor facilities across the nation that show their commitment to improving quality of care for seniors and persons with disabilities in three phrases of recognition — bronze, silver, and gold.
“The staff here feel very proud of this achievement,” said Life Care Center Executive Director Carla Ciaramella. “The facility has been through many changes in the last two years, especially due to the pandemic, so the chance to be recognized for our continued quality outcomes and commitment to our residents is motivating.”
Ciaramella attributed some of the center’s success to its staff.
“A quality of this facility that stands out is the longevity of our staff – more than 25 percent of the staff have been here for 10-plus years,” said Ciaramella. “Ten percent have been here for 20-plus years and almost 50 percent have been here for more than five years. This is a group of people who would do anything for the residents. I’d like to thank each and every one of them for living out our mission.”
Implemented by AHCA/NCAL in 1996, the National Quality Award program assists providers of long-term and post-acute care services in achieving their performance excellence goals.
Applicants develop an organizational profile with essential performance elements such as vision and mission statements and an assessment of customers’ expectations. They must also demonstrate their ability to implement a performance improvement system.
According to Ciaramella, the center was notified of its achievement at the end of May, after submitting an application in January.
Life Care Center of the North Shore is now eligible to apply for the AHCA/NCAL’s Silver Quality level, the second step in their National Quality Award Program.
Alexandra Rodriguez can be reached at [email protected].
