Northwood Health Care Center
NewsPosted on Thu Dec 29, 2005 at 07:17:15 PM EST
The Austin American-Statesman newspaper ran a nice
story on Tuesday about Northwood Health Care Center, an Eden Alternative organization in Texas. The author interviewed Bill Thomas about culture change and the
Green House Project, and she also got some great quotes from Sandy Ransom at the
Texas Long-Term Care Institute at Texas State University. From the article:
I thought the discussion near the end was interesting, and Sandy's point about why it makes sense to invest in culture change is exactly right.
Click on the comment button below to answer the poll question: "What is the single biggest perceived barrier to moving culture change beyond the "early adopter" phase of innovation?" In other words, what is the most often cited excuse among managers who are not pursuing transformational culture change?
Of the state's 1,100 nursing homes, Northwood and just 14 others are registered Eden Homes. Nationally, about 270 are registered. Some say a new organization of at least 100 nursing home administrators, caregivers, advocates and educators — tentatively called the Texas Coalition for Culture Change — could invigorate these movements in the state.
That's great news that Texas is joining the list of states building coalitions!I thought the discussion near the end was interesting, and Sandy's point about why it makes sense to invest in culture change is exactly right.
Some say Texas nursing homes don't get enough government aid to implement the Eden Alternative and other ideas. Texas has one of the country's lowest Medicaid reimbursement rates for nursing homes: about $95 per day for every patient who qualifies for the public health insurance, compared with a national average of about $140, according to the Texas Health Care Association.
"A lot of folks are into these kind of alternatives," said Tim Graves, president of the association, which represents nursing homes, among other groups. "But you really need a higher Medicaid rate. The Texas funding level . . . is a pretty desperate situation."
But Ransom said the Eden Alternative can improve a home's financial situation.
"People who implement culture change see money problems diminish; they have a product people want," she said. "To get that message out to everyone in a state the size of Texas is difficult."
Here's hoping more Texans discover the world of culture change in a big way!"A lot of folks are into these kind of alternatives," said Tim Graves, president of the association, which represents nursing homes, among other groups. "But you really need a higher Medicaid rate. The Texas funding level . . . is a pretty desperate situation."
But Ransom said the Eden Alternative can improve a home's financial situation.
"People who implement culture change see money problems diminish; they have a product people want," she said. "To get that message out to everyone in a state the size of Texas is difficult."
Click on the comment button below to answer the poll question: "What is the single biggest perceived barrier to moving culture change beyond the "early adopter" phase of innovation?" In other words, what is the most often cited excuse among managers who are not pursuing transformational culture change?
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