PHCA Recognizes Individual, Facility Advocates

LANCASTER — The Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA) today honored a Butler-based senior executive and a Berks County long-term care facility for their advocacy in informing elected leaders and state officials about the work nursing homes do to ensure residents have access to the high-quality care and services they need as they age.

Quality Life Services CEO Steven Tack received the individual Grassroots Advocacy Award and Laurel Center, a Genesis Healthcare facility in Hamburg, won the Grassroots Advocacy Facility Award during the closing session of PHCA’s 65th annual convention and trade show in Lancaster. The three-day conference attracted nearly 700 attendees.

“The strength of PCHA is found in its membership,” PHCA CEO W. Russell McDaid said. “And over the last year, no one represented that strength better than Steve and Laurel Center.”

Tack skillfully managed Quality Life Services’ operations while also maintaining a busy schedule crisscrossing the state to serve PCHA and meet with individual legislators. He participated in meetings in Harrisburg and in the district offices of lawmakers where many of Quality Life Services’ facilities are located.

In June, Tack escorted a team of caregivers, nurses and administrators from Quality Life Services to the state Capitol building in Harrisburg, where more than 450 rallied for additional Medicaid funding in the 2016-17 General Fund budget for nursing homes. He also has been a tireless advocate in policy discussions over tort reform and managed long-term care.

“There’s no better team player than Steve Tack,” McDaid said. “He worked hard this year to make sure legislators, especially those in leadership positions, understood the challenges we face, and he led his team on a mission not only to represent Quality Life Services, but to be a voice for each and every one of the hardworking caregivers in long-term care in Pennsylvania.”

Genesis’ Laurel Center in February became the first facility to open its doors and welcome state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale after he announced his office would prepare a report focused on the Department of Health’s oversight of nursing homes. In addition to the Auditor General, Genesis’ Laurel Center also has hosted visits for a U.S. congressman as well as state senators and representatives.

The tours showcase the work nursing homes do, and the variety of services they offer to residents. For example, Laurel Center has a dedicated respiratory staff that specializes in vent weaning and maintenance ventilator services for young and old alike.

“When it comes to the quality of care long-term care facilities provide, seeing is believing,” McDaid said. “And the doors of Laurel Center are always open. Their work to give leaders a firsthand look at the work we do has been a tremendous plus for our entire profession.”

Laurel Center is based at 125 Holly Road in Hamburg and operates dedicated units for ShortStay Progression Rehabilitation and Ventilator Care services. The campus also offers long-term care and personal home care, as well as a senior living. Learn more at www.genesishcc.com.

Quality Life Services is based at 612 N. Main St. in Butler and operates 10 facilities throughout western Pennsylvania, providing short-term rehabilitation and several long-term living lifestyles, including: independent living, personal care and skilled nursing long-term living. For more information, visit www.qualitylifeservices.com.

Full details of PHCA’s conference are available here: http://bit.ly/2cKYvSK.