GRANTS - Margaret Kaplan's first day as administrator of the Grants Good Samaritan Center began on June 3. The cultural diversity of Cibola County is similar to Kaplan's experiences in Palm Beach, Fla. The most noticeable difference is population densities since Palm Beach has somewhere between 50,000 to 75,000 residents and Grant's fewer than 15,000. She commented on another difference: “The younger generation in this area is very respectful of everyone.”

The center is run by the Evangelical Lutheran Society.

Kaplan's interest in health care, particularly the elderly population, began in her youth when she participated in a Girl Scout field trip to a nursing home. Kaplan remembered how much pleasure she felt in being with the residents, walking and talking together. At 17 she became a companion for an elderly woman diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. That Girl Scout field trip led to a wealth of experience in the health care profession: nursing recruiting, adult day-care, skilled nursing, recruiting for foster-care parents, jobs in retirement communities and in assisted living facilities.

Kaplan married, pursued a college degree, had two children and numerous jobs in the health care field before completing her Administrator in Training certification. Grant's is her first administrative position in a skilled nursing facility. This facility has 80 beds with a current census of 63. Residents' ages range from the early 20s up to those in their 90s. Both short-term and long-term care, including rehabilitation, is provided. Religious affiliations are not a requirement. Most residents come from Cibola County, the Albuquerque area and Gallup. In addition to the main residential building, there are 25 units of senior housing apartments.  All but one has federal Housing and Urban Development requirements based on income and age. These units are filled at this time.

There are 75 employees and a majority are in their 30s. There are more full-time than part-time positions. Kaplan said, “This staff is the hardest working, most caring staff. They genuinely care for our residents and this shows every day in the care they provide to residents.” Numerous community volunteers, both groups and individuals, provide additional support by giving freely of their time and resources. Bilingual services in Navajo and English, are available weekly to residents. The staff provides weekly shopping opportunities, hair salon services, recreational activities and many other choices for residents. Kaplan has just received notice of a 4-star rating for the Grant's operation.  5-star is the highest rating.

The Ponderosa Room is available to community groups for meetings and other events.  The Milan/Grants Red Hat Club used this room earlier for its monthly meeting. The Roosevelt was the site of a spaghetti dinner fundraiser on July 10. Seventy tickets at $10 each were sold in advance and more than 20 tickets were sold “at the door.” Additional fundraising activities are planned, such as the golf tournament in September. Kaplan and staff are already discussing possible fundraising activities for 2010.

Kaplan explained there are two types of donations: those designated for specific purposes and unrestricted gifts. Proceeds from the various fundraisers are used to improve the quality of life for the residents.

Touring the building, we met with several residents and staff in the hallways. As one elderly resident said to Kaplan, “You have a lovely aura.” This positive feeling is reflected in Kaplan's attitude and shared by staff members in their interactions with residents.

Honored with national award

By Diane Fowler

Beacon staff writer

GRANTS - The Good Samaritan Center has been named as one of the 2009 recipients of the Step One National Quality Award by the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living.

“There are three steps in the award process,” explained Rhonda McDaugale, Quality Assurance Coordinator at Good Sam and coordinator of the campaign to win an award. “The Step One criteria relates to quality of care and we were required to describe our mission, characteristics and key challenges and how the relationship of these factors is essential to achieve improvements, she said.”

The National Quality Award is described by AHCA/NCAL as a progressive, three-step program and organizations are able to apply for recognition and awards at three levels, each of which requires a more detailed and comprehensive demonstration of quality integration and performance.

This year 664 nursing and assisted living facilities from across the country applied for the quality award at the Step One level and Good Sam was one of 435 facilities to receive it. “We applaud the Good Samaritan Center for having passed this first step that demonstrates their intention to begin a rigorous quality improvement program, and look forward to their moving forward to pursue the requirements for the Steps II and III Awards in the coming years,” said Bernie Dana, Chair of the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Board of Overseers, one of the nine members directing the program.

Criteria for application for the award includes:

• Being a member in good standing of AHCA/NCAL.

• Having pledged to the Advancing Excellence in America's Nursing Homes Campaign and the Quality First Initiative.

• Being a long-term care organization with no regulatory deficiency at the Immediate Jeopardy or Substandard Quality of Care levels.

Margaret Kaplan, Person In Charge at Good Sam, described the application process for the Step One level award. “Applicants must demonstrate a clear vision and mission for their facility and acknowledge key challenges that are embodied in the organizational profile section of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award,” she explained.

“At the Step One level, the applications are reviewed by examiners who have received special training to qualify as judges for the award program,” she added.

McDaugale pointed out that a survey is also completed by the New Mexico Department of Health to ensure that all federal regulations are being followed. “The federal government has named us an outstanding center, earning four out of a possible five stars,” she said.

AHCA/NCAL is a trade organization with a membership of approximately 11,000. Since 1996, the group has used the concepts of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award as the basis for its three-step program for the long-term care profession.

Good Sam made its application in February and will receive its award in Chicago in October at the AHCA/NCAL's 60th Annual Convention and Exposition.