Article written by Elliot De Wit and printed in the Northwest Iowa Review on October 27, 2009

Sioux Center nursing home earns National Quality Award

Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center is receiving national recognition for the work it has done with its residents.

The long-term care facility is a nursing facility affiliated with Sioux Center Community Hospital & Health Center.

It was presented the 2009 Step I National Quality Award on October 7 in Chicago by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living.

"When they introduced each state and the Step I awards from each state, that was pretty exciting. There were seven from Iowa, including one in Hawarden, us and one in Cherokee. That's a lot from this part of the state," said Kathy Gerdes, director of senior services for Sioux Center Community Hospital & Health Center.

Hillcrest Health Care Services in Hawarden also received the Step I award.

Royale Meadows Care Center filled out an application to be considered for the award.

It had to include the facility's mission statement and how the facility uses it, the criteria for hiring all employees in each job category, information about who the stakeholders are and information about the environment the facility is in.

"We had to put all that information into some clear specifications. We had to have positive surveys with the Department of Inspections and Appeals - the regulatory body for long-term care in the state of Iowa," Gerdes said. "We had to report our turnover rates for the last three years. It's really about identifying who you are."

The facility is home to 69 residents.

For the environmental information on the application, Royale Meadows officials had to write about the area surrounding their facility.

"For us , there are 10 other long-term care facilities within a 25-mile radius of Sioux Center," Gerdes said. "We're probably different in the aspect that we have a new facility. This community is very supportive to senior care."

Another factor that Gerdes thinks helped Royale Meadows receive its award is the staff.

"It's a lot about activities, I think, and direct care with a personal touch. Our staff builds relationships with thosr residents," she said. "We try to make it the Hilton for them."

Any long-term facility can apply for the National Quality Award.

Royale Meadows was one of 435 facilities to receive the Step I award.

Twenty-seven long-term care facilities received the Step II award, and three received the Step III award.

Now that the Step I award has been achieved by Royale Meadows, the long-term care facility will apply for the Step II award next year.

"For Step II requirements, a big criteria is performance on the survey. You need to have systems and processes that help you meet regulations and stand out in high quality," Gerdes said.

She said nothing had to change with the staff to win the award, but she is happy the staff is being recognized.

"We spent a better part of this last year with staff shortages, and currently we're at full staff," Gerdes said. "We can say to the staff, 'See, you're doing a good job, and it's being recognized.'"

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		Article written by Elliot De Wit and printed in the Northwest Iowa Review on October 27, 2009 Sioux Center nursing home earns National Quality Award Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center is receiving national recognition for the work it has done with its residents. The long-term care facility is a nursing facility affiliated with Sioux Center Community Hospital & Health Center. It was presented the 2009 Step I National Quality Award on October 7 in Chicago by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living. "When they introduced each state and the Step I awards from each state, that was pretty exciting. There were seven from Iowa, including one in Hawarden, us and one in Cherokee. That's a lot from this part of the state," said Kathy Gerdes, director of senior services for Sioux Center Community Hospital & Health Center. Hillcrest Health Care Services in Hawarden also received the Step I award. Royale Meadows Care Center filled out an application to be considered for the award. It had to include the facility's mission statement and how the facility uses it, the criteria for hiring all employees in each job category, information about who the stakeholders are and information about the environment the facility is in. "We had to put all that information into some clear specifications. We had to have positive surveys with the Department of Inspections and Appeals - the regulatory body for long-term care in the state of Iowa," Gerdes said. "We had to report our turnover rates for the last three years. It's really about identifying who you are." The facility is home to 69 residents. For the environmental information on the application, Royale Meadows officials had to write about the area surrounding their facility. "For us , there are 10 other long-term care facilities within a 25-mile radius of Sioux Center," Gerdes said. "We're probably different in the aspect that we have a new facility. This community is very supportive to senior care." Another factor that Gerdes thinks helped Royale Meadows receive its award is the staff. "It's a lot about activities, I think, and direct care with a personal touch. Our staff builds relationships with thosr residents," she said. "We try to make it the Hilton for them." Any long-term facility can apply for the National Quality Award. Royale Meadows was one of 435 facilities to receive the Step I award. Twenty-seven long-term care facilities received the Step II award, and three received the Step III award. Now that the Step I award has been achieved by Royale Meadows, the long-term care facility will apply for the Step II award next year. "For Step II requirements, a big criteria is performance on the survey. You need to have systems and processes that help you meet regulations and stand out in high quality," Gerdes said. She said nothing had to change with the staff to win the award, but she is happy the staff is being recognized. "We spent a better part of this last year with staff shortages, and currently we're at full staff," Gerdes said. "We can say to the staff, 'See, you're doing a good job, and it's being recognized.'"
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