Elberta Health Care in Warner Robins has been named a 2012 recipient of the Bronze-Commitment to Quality award from the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living.

The award is given to facilities that show dedication in improving quality care. There are three levels: bronze, silver and gold. Facilities begin the quality improvement process at the bronze level, where they develop an organizational profile with elements such as vision and mission statements and an assessment of customers’ expectations, according to a news release.

Bronze applicants must demonstrate their ability to implement a performance improvement system. A team of trained examiners reviews each bronze application to determine if the facility has met the demands of the criteria, the release said.

Karen Hatcher, director of nursing at Elberta Health Care, said there are 59 residents at the facility, and every one of them requires some level of nursing care on a daily basis.

Hatcher said Elberta Health Care’s application for the bronze award focused on two areas -- pressure ulcers treatment and Alzheimer’s care.

“There is a lot of things we do in here to cut down on the rate of pressure ulcers,” Hatcher said. “We start with an interdisciplinary team meeting that includes the physician, family and patient, and we look at a lot of different things as a group.”

Hatcher said skin assessments are done upon admission and then weekly for four weeks after that. If the patient is considered at risk for pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores, the weekly assessments continue. Patients not at risk continue to have monthly skin assessments.

Elberta Health Care has an area for advanced Alzheimer’s patients and has recently remodeled and redecorated the rooms as well as revamped the individual care for those patients.

“That is a work in progress,” said Hatcher. “We are working on providing a more holistic way of caring for our Alzheimer’s patients, many of which are extremely advanced.”

Elberta Health Care also was cited for its excellence in communication with patients, families and the community.

Hatcher said that long term staff stability has been critical to patient care.

“When you have the same staff taking care of patients year (after) year, it makes a difference,” she said.

Elberta Health Care was one of only 24 facilities to receive the bronze level award. The nursing home will now turn its attention to the requirements for the next level -- the Silver-Achievement in Quality award.

The actual award will be given to Elberta staff in October in Tampa at the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living annual convention.

Contact Alline Kent at 396-2467 or allinekent@cox.net.