Implementing Quality First Successfully

Name:		Mary R. Windt
Title:		Executive Director
Organization:		The Marvin Under One Roof, Inc.™
Location:		Norwalk, CT 06855
Phone:		203-854-4660
E-mail:		mrwindt@underoneroofinc.org

What was the "spark" that got your organization involved in QF?
Hearing Larry Minnix's presentation at the AAHSA Annual Meeting about Quality First really set things in motion. I knew that we had a quality organization and that my whole philosophy was providing the highest level quality — no matter what the size of the organization or what the funding sources and/or limitations. We were in the beginning phases of a strategic plan and I thought that incorporating Quality First into the strategic planning process was the direction to take.

Where/how did you learn about QF?
From reading the materials from AAHSA and comparing it to what we were already doing, and what I knew from previous quality improvement programs.

Describe the process of getting your Board's support for QF.
It was fairly easy. I presented it at a Board Meeting in November 2002, right after the AAHSA conference, and in a sense, it was a "no-brainer". They agreed that we are all about quality, so signing the Quality First Covenant was not an issue. We then looked at the Self-Study and initiatives as part of our strategic planning Process; appointed a small Ad Hoc Committee to review and monitor implementation and incorporated the QF initiatives into each of the various committees for implementation and monitoring.

Bottom line, however — if there wasn't a commitment by me (Executive Director), it would have been easy not to make this a priority.

Does your organization have a Quality First leader … an individual or committee?
YES
If YES, an INDIVIDUAL, what is his/her title in your organization (in addition to being Quality First leader)?
Executive Director
If YES, a COMMITTEE: What is the name of the committee?
Board Member — Chair of Quality First Ad Hoc Committee.
Is this a special Quality First Committee, or did it exist previously?
The committee was formed just for this purpose.

What has been the involvement of each of the following with QF in your organization? Who, for instance, has been informed about QF? Who has completed the Self-Study/Providers' Checklist? Who has reviewed the results of the Self-Study/Checklist? Who has implemented QF?
CEO/ADMINISTRATOR — Extremely involved and leading the process. The CEO Completed the Self-Study checklist along with the Board. She also reviewed the results and worked on implementing new programs.
MANAGEMENT STAFF — Management staff was asked to sign on to be part of the "QF Team".
OTHER STAFF — All staff have been informed of the QF initiatives and asked to sign on to be part of the QF Team.
GOVERNING BOARD — The board completed the self-study, reviewed result ad incorporated into committee tasks.
RESIDENTS/CLIENTS — Residents have been informed all along of the program. Recently asked to sign on to be part of the team. The residents also participated in two programs to promote Quality First. At one meeting, we used the information presented at the April House of Delegates about involving others to encourage resident participation. Another meeting focused around the grape model to get the residents involved and committed to Quality First. Now, 100% of the residents signed on to be part of the QF team. They were given certificates and magnets for their apartment doors.

If your organization completed the QF Self-Study, was it helpful?
YES. Got the board to focus on specific items and lists to benchmark.


July 18, 2005