- THCA

Volume XXX, Number 5
May 2015

THCA Welcomes Texas Long Term Care Stakeholders to First Commitment to Care Quarterly Committee Meeting

On Friday April 17th, 2015 THCA, as part of the Commitment to Care (C to C) initiative, convened the first meeting of the Commitment to Care Stakeholder Committee. The committee is tasked with meeting the objectives outlined in the four core principles of the C to C. The Commitment to Care represents a unified effort among THCA and other Texas senior care stakeholders to collaboratively chart a strategic course to improve care quality for Texas seniors, promote transparency and establish Texas as a leader in eldercare. The four core principles of the C to C are:

Improve workforce stability

Improve clinical outcomes and care coordination

Improve survey performance results
Promote policies that enhance the quality care needs of the frail and elderly.

Commitment to Care committee members include:

Amanda Fredriksen, Associate State Director of Advocacy, AARP

Liam M. Fry, M.D., Medical Director, Texas Medical Directors Association

Barbara Aydlett, Chair, Health and Human Resources Committee for the Texas Silver Hair Legislature

Patty Ducayet, Texas State Long Term Care Ombudsman

Susan Purcell, R.N., Project Director, TX QIO TMF Health Quality Institute

Robin Hayes, R.N., Regional Nurse for Touchstone Communities, Nurse Council Chair for THCA

John Berkley, Director, Texas State Veterans Homes, VLB

Kevin Warren, President and CEO, THCA

Gloria Bean-Williams, R.N., Director of Clinical and Quality Services, THCA

Dorothy Crawford, Director of Policy and Regulatory Analysis, THCA

Mr. Warren shared responses from the first Commitment to Care survey taken by THCA members indicating successes, challenges and priorities in areas of quality improvement. Click here to see a brief summary of the C to C 1st Quarter Survey. Ms. Bean-Williams reviewed data from across the state compared with national statistics on topic areas the C to C indicated were priorities for Texas providers. Ms. Purcell also reviewed Texas data on the publicly reported quality measures and the initiatives on which TMF works with providers.

Survey responses indicated that reducing staff turnover is the biggest barrier to providers’ ability to achieve improvement. To that, meeting attendees discussed the possibility of developing a CNA Career Ladder, examining best practices in attracting and retaining direct care staff and recommended an increased focus on providing resources to stabilize the workforce in the long term care setting. Members also discussed the need to include a representative from the Alzheimer’s Association, a Family Council Member and a Department of Aging and Disability Services – Quality Representative. THCA continues to advocate before the state legislature for closing the gap in Medicaid funding for skilled nursing care. The state’s own numbers indicate a $343 million shortfall in funding long term care for Texas’ frail elderly.

Since the launch of Commitment to Care, the initiative has featured monthly quality topics offered on the C to C landing page of the THCA website. May’s Quality Topic is Workforce and Retention. Keep an eye out for it and other upcoming monthly quality topics to stay abreast of the latest trends and care strategies to elevate the quality of long term care delivery in Texas.

The next Commitment to Care meeting with senior care advocates will be held in July.