“Carol Woods Retirement Community and The Mary Wade Home, Inc. are aging-services leaders paving pathways that are worthy of following,” says John Richter, principal-in-charge of health care with LarsonAllen.

What does greatness mean for the aging-services field?
Through disciplined processes and measurable results, we’re beginning to understand the traits of high-performing aging-services providers:

• Strong financial results in top quartile nationally
• Solid, visionary leadership
• Customer and employee satisfaction in the top quartile
• Investment in developing employees
• Sophisticated measurement systems to monitor performance
• Social accountability to local communities
• Innovative programs
• Focused strategies
• Dedication to advancing the field (technologically, operationally, clinically)

How were organizations assessed?

• Leadership
• Superior performance
• Distinctive impact
• Best practices and innovation
• Customer feedback

“We honor these organizations for their commitment to put Quality First in their work and look forward to seeing how the ideas and insights they share will help our members create the future of aging services,” says AAHSA President and CEO Larry Minnix.

Program findings
This national program is a compilation of stories about exceptional organizations and how they are moving toward realizing their Quality First goals. Access the white paper for more information about the program, the award recipients, key findings, selection process, and assessment tools. In addition, view presentations given at the 2007 AAHSA Annual Meeting & Exposition in Orlando.

All AAHSA member applicants who met the program criteria will receive feedback and an analysis summary. In a future publication we’ll share more of the collective findings; however, organizational practices will not be attributed to individual providers.

Program history and details
Sponsored by LarsonAllen and AAHSA, the Pathways to Greatness Recognition Program is designed to define the primary attributes of high-quality aging-services providers and recognize them for their excellence. It expands upon the Path to Greatness pilot study conducted in 2006.

In its first year, the application process was open to AAHSA Quality First Covenant signers who provide multiple levels of services and programs for older adults on one campus. A panel of aging-services professionals and consumers assessed the applications and selected the winners.

Expert panel members
E. Kern Tomlin, Vice Chair for Governance
Presbyterian Villages of Michigan, Southfield, Michigan

James A. Rice, PhD., FACHE, Senior Vice President
Clark Consulting – Healthcare Group, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Kathryn Roberts, CEO and President
Ecumen, Shoreview, Minnesota

William B. Sims, CEO
Herbert J. Sims & Co., Inc., Southport, Connecticut

Dick Edwards, Administrator Emeritus
Mayo Clinic, Menomonie, Wisconsin

Gene Dolloff, Chairman
Morrison Senior Dining, Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania