The Faith-Based Network: mission driven, but all business.Shifting demographics The attributes of people in a particular geographic area. Used for marketing purposes, population, ethnic origins, religion, spoken language, income and age range are examples of demographic data. and culture change. Declining reimbursements from government and other sources. High staff turnover. Increased competition. These are challenges faced by long-term care long-term care (LTC), n the provision of medical, social, and personal care services on a recurring or continuing basis to persons with chronic physical or mental disorders. providers across the country, and western Pennsylvania Western Pennsylvania consists of the western third of the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. Pittsburgh is the largest city in the region, with a metropolitan area of about 2.4 million people, and is the cultural center for Western Pennsylvania. is no different. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In fact, with its high concentration of seniors, this region will act as a proving ground for many of the new and innovative ways these challenges are faced and overcome. For a number of faith-based In the United States of America, the term faith-based is used to describe organizations that are religious in nature and distinguish those organizations from government, public or private secular organizations. nonprofit A corporation or an association that conducts business for the benefit of the general public without shareholders and without a profit motive. Nonprofits are also called not-for-profit corporations. Nonprofit corporations are created according to state law. providers in this region, they've they've Contraction of they have. they've have found many of the answers to their challenges as members of the Faith-Based Network. "The Faith-Based Network is a business alliance of faith-affiliated, nonprofit long-term care providers throughout western Pennsylvania," says Earl Evens, the Network's president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. . "A number of our member organizations found they had common business challenges. Rather than go it alone and perhaps not survive, they allied themselves and are now positioned to thrive in what is still a volatile industry in terms of change." The Faith-Based Network was established in 1997 to help member organizations continue to provide quality programs and services for older adults through collaboration Working together on a project. See collaborative software. and participation in the Network's value-added programs. There are currently 14 member organizations representing eight different faiths. The Network accomplishes its mission through three major strategies: * Reduce members' costs through effective leveraging of their collective buying power Buying Power The money an investor has available to buy securities. In a margin account, the buying power is the total cash held in the brokerage account plus maximum margin available. Also referred to as "Excess Equity. for goods and services In economics, economic output is divided into physical goods and intangible services. Consumption of goods and services is assumed to produce utility (unless the "good" is a "bad"). It is often used when referring to a Goods and Services Tax. . * Develop business opportunities that generate new streams of revenue, lower costs, or enhance programs and services for Network members. * Identify and implement best practices to support quality improvement and culture change, enhancing members' position in the marketplace as the premier providers of high-quality, innovative programs and services for seniors. "The Faith-Based Network is unique in several ways," says Evens. "We're large enough to effect change for members by virtue of leveraging our buying power, and we're small enough so that members can effect change from within. It's one member, one vote, regardless of the number of facilities or employees or budget a member has. This makes for a very democratic process in deciding the direction of the organization or what programs and services it will offer." Of its programs and services, perhaps the most successful for members to date are the training programs offered as part of its Learning Circle Initiative. At its 2001 Annual Management Retreat, member organizations identified training as an immediate need. Many had experienced difficulty in finding adequate training that was affordable, was flexible, and resonated with managers. "Another issue involving training," says Evens, "is that healthcare trainers are primarily familiar with the medical model or hospital as the setting. Our members don't have patients, they have residents and (their organizations) are based on more of a social model, which has been a cultural shift in the industry across the continuum Continuum (pl. -tinua or -tinuums) can refer to:
The Network, by virtue of its size and combined buying power, was able to pique the interest of Development Dimensions International, an internationally recognized leader in the field of training, in tailoring its healthcare program for the long-term care setting. Faith-Based Network markets this program today to its members as Leadership Excellence, which began in 2004 and has been a resounding re·sound v. re·sound·ed, re·sound·ing, re·sounds v.intr. 1. To be filled with sound; reverberate: The schoolyard resounded with the laughter of children. 2. success. The initial plan was to train 220 people. Between January 2004 and June 2005, more than 450 people were trained, and through self-evaluation surveys and independent observation, the following results were achieved: * 68% of participants (59% of observers) saw an improvement in communication among employees. * 44% of participants (52% of observers) saw improvement in employee morale. * 7 of the 9 facilities that participated saw a decline in turnover (of the two that saw slight increases, one was involved in a labor strike). "The customized training helps frontline front·line also front line n. 1. A front or boundary, especially one between military, political, or ideological positions. 2. Basketball See frontcourt. 3. Football The linemen of a team. supervisors and managers to become more effective coaches, helps them delegate A person who is appointed, authorized, delegated, or commissioned to act in the place of another. Transfer of authority from one to another. A person to whom affairs are committed by another. A person elected or appointed to be a member of a representative assembly. properly, to empower empower verb To encourage or provide a person with the means or information to become involved in solving his/her own problems and engage their staff so they feel valued and supported," says Evens. "That translates directly into a living environment for residents where they are treated as individuals with respect and care." In addition to group purchasing and training, the Network offers many other programs and services to its members, including pharmacy pharmacy, art of compounding and dispensing drugs and medication. The term is also applied to an establishment used for such purposes. Until modern times medication was prepared and dispensed by the physician himself. In the 18th cent. through its own service, Rx Partners-LTC; group health insurance; and more. Above all, the Network is about the business of long-term care. As Evens describes, the member organizations are the premier providers of long-term care in western Pennsylvania; they already know how to deliver quality care. The Faith-Based Network exists to help them deliver that quality care by providing cost savings; greater access to innovative programs, as well as funding for them; and a collaborative forum to share and learn from each others' best practices. Linda Massie is Director of Operations for the Faith-Based Network, where she helps to advance the Network's goals and objectives through administration of group purchasing programs, facilitating Network committees and task forces on best practices, and implementation of collaborative initiatives. For more information, call (724) 935-7976 or visit www.faith-basednetwork.org. To send your comments to the author and editors, e-mail massie0407@nursinghomesmagazine.com Member Organizations Asbury Heights/United Methodist Services for the Aging www.asburyheights.org Baptist Homes of Western Pennsylvania www.baptisthomes.org Canterbury Place www.upmc.edu/canterbury The Cedars of Monroeville www.thecedarsofmonroeville.com Concordia Lutheran Ministries www.concordialm.org Jewish Association on Aging www.jaapgh.org Lutheran SeniorLife www.lassenior.com Mt. Macrina Manor www.mountmacrinamanor.com Marian Manor Corporation www.marianmanor.com Presbyterian SeniorCare www.srcare.org Redstone Highlands www.redstonehighlands.org Reformed Presbyterian Home www.rphome.org Villa St. Joseph www.stjoseph-baden.org Vincentian Collaborative Services www.vcs.org |
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