New Alliance Targets Long-Term Care Quality

A new coalition, composed of 29 groups representing nursing homes, academia, caregivers, consumers and the federal government, is taking aim at improving the quality of care that long-term care residents receive.

The Long-Term Care Quality Alliance prides itself on being a diverse group of stakeholders who will strive to do the following:

• Identify performance measures and evidence-based practices that are effective in assessing and improving both quality of life and quality of care
• Recommend ways in which to apply current measurement and performance improvement strategies in high-priority areas (such as care coordination)
• Propose ways to build on or create momentum for existing quality initiatives
• Achieve tangible improvements in care through the use of pilots, technical collaboration and demonstrations

The chairwoman of the alliance is Mary Naylor, director of the NewCourtland Center for Transitions and Health at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Nursing. Former CMS Administrator Mark McClellan and current Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Director Carolyn Clancy are also both members of the alliance.