[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 110 (Wednesday, September 15, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1622]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            LANCASTER AREA SENIOR SERVICES PUT QUALITY FIRST

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                          HON. JOSEPH R. PITTS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 14, 2004

  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate an important 
event in my district coming up on Wednesday, September 29, an event I 
would have been eager to attend but for my duties here in the Capitol 
on that important session day.
  On that day, residents and staff of sixteen not-for-profit Continuing 
Care Retirement Communities in my district will gather together for a 
ceremonial joint signing of a pledge to participate in Quality First, a 
nationwide, profession-wide effort to ``raise the bar'' on quality and 
on achieving a process of continuous improvement.
  These sixteen communities, large and small, constitute L.A.S.S., 
which stands for Lancaster Area Senior Services. Together, they serve 
more than 10,000 seniors and 7,000 employees and have made a commitment 
to work together to explore ways to address trends and services that 
will enhance the quality of life for their residents.
  Part of that commitment was the decision to take part in Quality 
First. All 16 members of L.A.S.S. are also members of PANPHA, their 
300+ member state association of nonprofit housing and service 
providers, and of AAHSA, their national Association of Homes and 
Services for the Aging. AAHSA launched Quality First in 2002, along 
with other provider associations, to make a commitment to earning 
public trust and to helping older adults and their families live to 
their fullest potential. Participation in Quality First is a way to 
prove to a doubting public, a critical media and a skeptical 
legislature that the profession is committed to quality and constant 
quality improvement.
  The AAHSA/PANPHA version of Quality First to which the L.A.S.S. 
members have committed includes 10 Elements of Quality: commitment; 
governance accountability; leading-edge care and services; community 
involvement; continuous quality improvement; human resources 
development; consumer-friendly information; consumer participation; 
research findings and education; and public trust and consumer 
confidence.
  They in turn are based on seven core principles: continuous quality 
assurance and quality improvement; public disclosure and 
accountability; patient/resident and family rights; workforce 
excellence; public input and community involvement; ethical practices; 
and financial stewardship.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the boards, trustees, and 
executive staff of the L.A.S.S. communities on their decision to 
participate in Quality First. As I indicated earlier, it is unfortunate 
that I cannot attend the commemoration, but I am pleased to be able to 
mark the event to my colleagues by way of these remarks.
  The continuing care retirement communities comprising Lancaster Area 
Senior Services are: Brethren Village, Calvary Fellowship Homes, 
Ephrata Manor, Fairmont Homes, Garden Spot Village, Homestead Village, 
Inc., Landis Homes, Luthercare, Masonic Village, Mennonite Home 
Communities, Moravian Manor, Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement 
Community, Saint Anne's Home, Tel Hai Retirement Community, United Zion 
Retirement Community, and Willow Valley Retirement Communities.

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