The quality of care provided by The Alverno is demonstrated through the multiple awards received throughout the years.

The Alverno Receives Quality First 5-Star Award

The Alverno Health Care Facility has been awarded the Quality First 5-Star Award by the Iowa Health Care Association (IHCA). Quality First is a nationwide initiative to develop and measure quality care in long term care facilities and programs. The initiative calls for facilities to adopt a people-centered approach to daily routines and activities, putting people first whether it is facility residents, families, staff, volunteers, vendors, the general public, or the greater community. Iowa Health Care Association member long-term care facilities that achieve the set Quality First criteria receive the IHCA Quality First 5-Star Award.

The Alverno Health Care Facility in Clinton and the Great River Medical Center - Klein Center in Burlington were recognized as the first two Quality First 5-Star Award recipients in Iowa at an awards ceremony at the IHCA state convention of long term care providers on September 28, 2005 in Des Moines.

The award signifies the facility's commitment to a continuous quality improvement process. "IHCA's Quality First 5-Star Award highest recognition quality within Iowa's long term profession," said Steve Ackerson, IHCA Executive Director. "The Alverno's achievement demonstrates that their mission of exceptional care for the elderly is embraced and relentlessly pursued."

As a recipient of the Quality First 5-Star Award, The Alverno has met the criteria, demonstrating their commitment to achieving excellence in the quality of care and services and quality of life for their residents. "Our community can be confident that, as a 5-Star Award recipient, The Alverno has developed the tools to help raise our quality of services to even higher levels," said Steve Drobot, President and CEO of The Alverno. "As part of the Quality First 5-Star Award we agree to continuously strive for quality improvement. Our ongoing goal is to further strengthen our quality of care and services offered to our residents, staff and the community."

IHCA's Deputy Director, Dr. Cindy Baddeloo, said facilities who meet the Quality First 5-Star Award criteria are committed to putting their residents and quality care first. "In today's environment, the long term care profession is being asked to lead the way in defining new standards of quality and in holding ourselves accountable to higher, public standards of quality," said Baddeloo. "As a Quality First 5-Star facility, The Alverno has proven its readiness and commitment to show the public - by demonstrated quality results - that the needs of their residents and families are important, above all else."

"What consumers need in a long term care services is changing as our population ages and people live longer," Drobot said. "These changing needs are placing new demands on the profession to help Iowans live active, healthy lives well into their 80s and 90s. The Alverno is ready, willing and able to meet the challenge."

Additional Awards Received:

• 2004 Recipient of the Financial Benefit Care Tracker Excellence Award
• 2004 Recipient of the President's Award from the Iowa Long Term Care Risk Management Association
• 2003 Recipient of the Step I Quality Award
• 2003 Recipient of the CareTracker Excellence Awards for Series Innovation and Full Facility Involvement
• 2002 Governor's Award - Quality Care in Iowa Health Care Facilities
• 2001 Certificate of Best Practice from the Iowa Department of Inspectors & Appeals in the categories of Quality of Life and Nursing Practices
• 1999 Iowa Partners for Resident Care Quality Recognition Award for Quality of Life.