Florida Health Care Association recently recognized the winners of the 2021 Excellence in Long Term Care Nursing Awards during the Nurse Leadership Program taking place in St. Pete Beach. These awards, which honor the shining stars in long term care nursing, were presented by FHCA President Marco Carrasco and the awards program sponsor, Robin Bleier of RB Health Partners, Inc.
Certified Nursing Assistant of the Year Minnie Diaz (right center), CNA with Royal Oak Nursing Center was named FHCA’s 2021 Certified Nursing Assistant of the Year. Minnie has been a CNA at Royal Oak for nearly 20 years and is described as being an incredible team player and a dedicated employee who always takes the extra time to make sure her residents’ needs are met and that they feel safe. Minnie is known to sit at their bedside, hold their hand and take the time to listen and comfort them when they need it. Minnie also has an excellent understanding of falls prevention and goes above and beyond to put interventions in place for those residents who need it. Licensed Practical Nurse of the Year Charmaine Jobe (center), LPN and Social Worker at Consulate Health Care of Winter Haven was recognized as the 2021 Licensed Practical Nurse of the Year. Charmaine has been in the nursing profession for over 18 years and with Consulate for more than 7 years. Her knowledge and experience, along with her ability to build relationships with residents and family members are what make her a top-notch leader. Charmaine knows how to build their trust and always follows through on calls and visits to make sure the residents and families have what they need. She is a wonderful communicator, which is important in her role to handle the facility’s hospice referrals and speak with families and support the residents during their end-of-life care. Registered Nurse of the Year Verdell Larkins (center), RN Supervisor at Harbor Beach Nursing and Rehabilitation Center was recognized with FHCA’s 2021 Registered Nurse of the Year Award. Verdell has been in nursing for 44 years, with 12 of those years working with Harbor Beach. She’s described as an educator and mentor to her fellow nursing staff. and has proven herself to be steadfast and a trusted part of the team. Known for being compassionate and having a warm heart, Verdell has a way of putting residents, their loved ones, and the staff at ease during challenging times. Verdell is described as having a sense of integrity and ability to problem solve, which is what sets her apart and makes her an amazing leader. Rising Star in Long Term Care Nursing Andrea Mattern (center), Assistant Director of Clinical Services and Infection Preventionist at Countryside Rehab and Nursing Center was presented with FHCA’s 2021 Long Term Care Rising Star in Nursing Award. In her 8 years at Countryside, Andrea has risen up the ladder of responsibility. From supervising a team on the 3-11 shift to unit manager to RN/MDS Coordinator, she has always demonstrated strong leadership skills. Her attention to detail and extensive experience, along with her certification in Infection Prevention, also put her in the critical position of overseeing the facility’s precautionary measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. When Countryside became one of AHCA’s designated COVID Isolation Centers, Andrea was responsible for coordinating staff testing, managing infection control surveys and health department visits, educating staff and coordinating vaccination clinics. At the height of the pandemic, she was also using her knowledge and experience to offer guidance and support to several facilities in the region.
Nurse Administrator of the Year Teresa Edge (right), Director of Nursing at Suwannee Health and Rehabilitation Center was recognized as FHCA’s 2021 Nurse Administrator of the Year. Teresa has spent over 20 years in nursing, with 3.5 of those at Suwannee. Under her clinical leadership, Suwannee had the best survey outcome in its history, with 3 or fewer citations; they earned Joint Commission Accreditation, the AHCA/NCAL Silver Quality Award, a Five Star Rating, achieved 100 percent occupancy, are maintaining zero nursing agency usage and are sustaining a 90% customer satisfaction rating. Teresa is described an incredible motivator and educator of her team, and that was never more critical than during COVID, when Suwannee was hit hard with an outbreak. The clinical practices and systems she instilled in her team is the cornerstone of the facility and the reason they were able to navigate through the crisis while Teresa was out recovering from the virus. |
Florida Leads Nation with 32 Bronze Quality Award Recipients in 2021
The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) has announced the 2021 Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award recipients. FHCA is proud to report that Florida once again leads the nation with 32 Bronze Award recipients out of a total of 194 skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), 39 assisted living (AL) communities, and 3 combined SNF/AL providers in 42 states.
“The fact that Florida leads the nation once again in the number of Quality Award recipients emphasizes that Florida’s long term caregivers have always made it a priority to ensure Florida’s frail elders receive exceptional care every day, no matter what challenges they’re facing. We’re proud of these centers for achieving national recognition they deserve” said Emmett Reed, FHCA Chief Executive Officer.
The following Florida centers earned the 2021 AHCA/NCAL Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award:
- AdventHealth Care Center Apopka North
- AdventHealth Care Center Orlando East
- AdventHealth Care Center Zephyrhills South
- Avante at Melbourne
- Avante at Orlando
- Avante of Ocala
- Aventura Rehabilitation & Nursing Center
- Beneva Lakes Healthcare & Rehabilitation
- Consulate Health Care at Bayonet Point
- Consulate Health Care at Pensacola
- Consulate Health Care of Melbourne
- Countryside Rehab and Healthcare Center
- Emerald Shores Health & Rehabilitation
- Fletcher Health & Rehabilitation
- Heartland Health Care & Rehabilitation Center
- Heritage HealthCare Center
- Lakeside Nursing & Rehab
- Lee Memorial Skilled Nursing Unit
- Manorcare At Lely Palms
- Manorcare Health Services – Delray Beach
- North Florida Rehabilitation & Specialty Care
- Oaktree Healthcare
- Olive Branch Health and Rehab Center
- PruittHealth – Fleming Island
- PruittHealth – Southwood
- Renaissance Health and Rehabilitation
- Rosewood Health & Rehabilitation Center
- Savannah Court and Cove of Maitland
- Savannah Court of Maitland
- Southern Lifestyle
- Titusville Rehab & Nursing Center
- West Gables Health Care Center
The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program has three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Providers begin the quality improvement process at the Bronze level, where they assess their organization’s mission, vision, and key factors that lead to success. They also develop an organizational profile and must demonstrate their ability to implement a performance improvement system.
FHCA’s 2020 and 2021 National Quality Award recipients will be recognized during the 2021 Annual Conference Quality Award Celebration on Tuesday, July 27. AHCA/NCAL will present awards to the 2021 National Quality Award recipients AHCA/NCAL’s 72nd Convention & Expo in National Harbor, Maryland which will be held from October 10-13, 2021.
Get to Know FCAL Member Stephanie Frazier, Senior VP of Housing at MorseLife Health System
How did you make the decision to work in long term care? Specifically, an assisted living facility?
My grandmother and I were always very close and she resided in a senior living community. Upon college graduation I received a job in the community where she was living. She was always my inspiration. I found assisted living the most rewarding as it was a mixture of social and medical models. I approached all seniors in my care as if they were my own grandmother.
As the Senior Vice President of Housing at MorseLife Health System, please describe to us about the uniqueness of your community, staff, and the residents.
I oversee Independent living, assisted living, and Assisted living memory care totaling in 375 beds now with a new PACE assisted living building opening in the summer with an additional 160 beds. The community is very large offering all seniors the resources they need without being turned away which is such wonderful asset. MorseLife is a Jewish facility however we do have a diverse community. The Jewish community within MorseLife is such a close community given what their cultural background has been through. This allows such a close relationship between staff and residents to form and grow.
How long have you been a member of Florida Health Care Association (FHCA)? What made you choose FHCA over other state long term care organizations?
MorseLife has been a member of FHCA for many years. I recently became more involved as my responsibilities grew within the organization. I had been a part of other organizations when I came to Florida 6 years ago but was never embraced as a new administrator. I wanted to try a new organization and my colleagues started sharing all the resources FHCA provided to them.
As a FHCA leader, what are some of the projects that you have supported or worked on that have made you proud?
Becoming a member of the FHCA FCAL committee has been rewarding. Supporting FHCA in its quest to better serve the assisted living communities is a great step as assisted living communities grow throughout the state and nationally.
In your opinion, please describe how FHCA has changed over the past years?
FHCA has done a great job reaching out on a personal level to members and providing most up to date information.
What are some of the “added benefits” that makes membership in FHCA attractive to your organization as an assisted living facility?
I believe in FHCA’s ability to meet the needs of assisted living facilities in Florida. One of the biggest benefits is meeting other members that you can reach out to for colleague support as well as knowing the FHCA team truly is only a phone call away to provide whatever added support needed or to answer any questions.
With the challenges that assisted living facilities face with increasing needs and workforce issues, what do you think FHCA can focus on to help you overcome these challenges?
As assisted living residents change to having needs closer to what nursing homes have provided in the past, I believe FHCA can be a front line support to helping at a state level needed changes to allow assisted living facilities to better meet the needs of these residents and to meet the goal of allowing these residents to truly age in place.
As an assisted living member, how do you think FHCA can support other assisted living members as we move forward in the long-term care continuum?
Continue reaching out with great information and education. Hosting live events in the future all over the state for meet and greet opportunities will also entice new facilities that are rapidly growing all over the state to join.
Suwannee Health & Rehabilitation Center Wins Grand Prize in LTC Photo Contest
FHCA has named Suwannee Health and Rehabilitation Center the Grand Prize Winner of its 2021 Long Term Care Photo Contest. The winning photo, “Buddies Reunited,” was captured by photographer Dana Fortson, the center’s Director of Community Relations. Based in Live Oak, Fla., Suwannee Health and Rehab was impacted early by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, operations had to cease quicker than most long term care facilities in Florida, and residents and their families had to adjust to the abrupt stop in visitation. A small community with a big heart, the team at Suwannee worked through those challenges while still remaining focused on enriching their residents’ lives to the best of their ability. Once the center was able to schedule window visits, it boosted staff morale and warmed their hearts. Suwannee’s residents had gone months with limited outside interaction from friends and families, so the window visits were uplifting for everyone.
Fortson has been a member of the Suwannee team for eight years. The photo she captured is of Mr. W., a Suwannee resident whose children are unable to visit often because they do not live close by. Pictured with Mr. W. is Chasen, the son of another dedicated Suwannee staff member. After daycare ended, Chason made a regular routine out of coming by to wave to the residents, including Mr. W., who always stopped by the window for his daily greeting from little Chason.
Fortson shared that she wanted to capture the essence of family and friends when taking this photo. “If 2020 taught us anything, it is the word ‘essential’, but I look at it in not only in terms of healthcare workers but in its totality,” said Fortson. “We are essential pieces to someone. In skilled nursing facilities, our family members, friends, and community are essential to what we do and the care we provide. We depend on them to increase our resident’s socialization and promote their independence, and I felt as though this picture captured that message.”
FHCA rewarded Suwannee Health and Rehabilitation Center with $500 to contribute toward staff and resident activities. Fortson will also receive a $50 Visa gift card for capturing this image.
FHCA’s Long Term Care Photo Contest is open annually to those who live, work, or volunteer in an FHCA member care center or those who work with an FHCA business partner. Nearly 100 photos were entered into this year’s contest, which focused on the bright spots during COVID and how staff and residents stayed resilient throughout the pandemic with activities, virtual visits, community support, drive-by parades and more.
The winning photos will be displayed during FHCA’s 2021 Annual Conference & Trade Show, July 25-29 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Orlando. Read more about this year’s Long Term Care Photo Contest, winners and view all the entries by clicking here.
Edward J. Healey Center Earns 3rd Place in LTC Photo Contest
The Edward J. Healey Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in West Palm Beach was awarded third place in the FHCA 2021 Long Term Care Photo Contest with the entry, “William Is Able to Stand Up.” The photo, captured by Sheila Fernandez, features Mr. William working to overcome the challenges of physical therapy so he can build up his strength and ultimately return home. Together with his therapist, he learns how to stand up and attempts to take a step.
Fernandez has been the activity director at the Edward J. Healey Center for more than three years. She has been in long term care for over 15 years and is constantly looking for new ways to bring joy to the center’s residents. When asked what moved her to take this photo, Fernandez stated that she was “trying to capture the joy of our resident achieving a goal that he thought he would not be able to accomplish.” A safety net of Palm Beach County and a Five-Star quality rated facility, the Edward J. Healey Center has a vision to help residents who may be unable to receive assistance from other organizations.
FHCA rewarded the Edward J. Healey Center with $200 to contribute toward staff and resident activities. Fernandez will receive a $50 Visa gift card for capturing this image.
FHCA’s Long Term Care Photo Contest is open annually to those who live, work, or volunteer in an FHCA member care center or those who work with an FHCA business partner. Nearly 100 photos were entered into this year’s contest, which focused on the bright spots during COVID and how staff and residents stayed resilient throughout the pandemic with activities, virtual visits, community support, drive-by parades and more.
The winning photos will be displayed during FHCA’s 2021 Annual Conference & Trade Show, July 25-29 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Orlando. Read more about this year’s Long Term Care Photo Contest, winners and view all the entries by clicking here.