VCU news

By Shira Pollard
Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU

The American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living have selected the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU – Brook Road Campus as a 2012 recipient of the “Silver – Achievement in Quality” for its outstanding performance in the health care profession. The competitive award highlights select facilities across the nation that serve as models of excellence in providing high-quality long-term care.

“This award is a benchmark of distinction in the journey to providing high-quality care,” said Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of AHCA/NCAL. “The long-term and post-acute care community applauds Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU on this great achievement.”

Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU’s Transitional Care Unit is a 47-bed, long-term care program that serves children from birth to age 21. The unit provides care that focuses on the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual needs of the child and family. The services are child-focused and family-centered. Depending on the needs of the child, the care they receive can include long-term care, transitional care, palliative care and end-of-life care.

“We are honored to receive this award, especially as we celebrate Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU’s second birthday since the joining of VCU Medical Center and Children's Hospital in June 2010. This award is a testament of our dedication to people, programs and facilities,” said Leslie Wyatt, vice president of children’s services and executive director of Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. “We are proud of our staff for achieving this honor and acknowledge our entire care team for their commitment to advancing children’s health in our community.”

In an indication of a strengthening commitment to quality care in skilled nursing and post-acute care centers, the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program saw success rates of applicants for the Silver award double from 8 percent to 17 percent. Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU was one of 52 facilities nationwide to receive the Silver-level award this year.

Implemented by AHCA/NCAL in 1996, the National Quality Award Program is centered on the criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program. The program assists providers of long-term and post-acute care services in achieving their performance excellence goals.

The program has three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Facilities begin the quality improvement process at the Bronze level and must receive an award at each level before proceeding to the next. As a recipient of the “Silver – Achievement in Quality” award, Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU has demonstrated systematic advancements in quality, plans for continual improvement, and sustainable organizational goals. The hospital may now move forward in developing approaches and achieving performance levels that meet the criteria required for the “Gold – Excellence in Quality” award.

“Receiving this award is evidence of the staff commitment and successful leadership at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU and its ability to apply rigorous standards to operations and service,” says Chick Stepahin, chair, AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Board of Overseers. “Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU has been consistent in its performance and dedication to providing high-quality care.”

The awards are sponsored by AHCA/NCAL Associate Business Member My InnerView, a Web-based applied research and quality-management company that supports leaders across the entire assisted living, senior housing and skilled nursing profession with tools to measure, benchmark and improve performance. The award will be presented to Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU during AHCA/NCAL’s 63rd Annual Convention and Exposition, Oct. 7-10, 2012 in Tampa, Fla.