Governor Kaine Announces Program to Enhance the Quality of Care in Nursing Facilities
– Virginia Gold will fund innovative projects to improve staff recruitment and retention –
RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced the launch of Virginia Gold, a two-year grant program to improve and expand the quality of care in Virginia's licensed nursing facilities. Five facilities will receive funding of up to $50,000 each to enhance the quality and continuity of residents' care through increased recruitment and retention of certified nursing assistants (CNAs).
"Virginia Gold will be the latest in a series of efforts to improve the care of Virginia seniors and develop supportive environments in nursing facilities," Governor Kaine said. "These grants will help facilities develop best practices for use across the state."
The five grants awarded to nursing facilities by the Department of Medical Assistance Services are:
- Autumn Care in Portsmouth-a 108 bed skilled nursing and long-term care facility, with 55 CNAs out of 125 staff, and 75% Medicaid recipients;
- Birmingham Green (Northern Virginia Health Center) in Manassas-a 180 bed facility, with 67 CNAs out of 309 staff, and 90% Medicaid recipients;
- Dogwood Village in Orange County-a 138 bed facility, with 83 CNAs out of 235 staff, and 54% Medicaid recipients;
- Francis Marion Manor (Mountain States Health Alliance) in Marion-a 109 bed facility, with 39 CNAs out of 70 direct care staff, and 67% Medicaid recipients;
- Trinity Mission (Covenant Dove LLC) in Charlottesville-a 180 bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility, with 99 CNAs out of 219 staff, and 70% Medicaid recipients.
The program will be a collaboration between the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services and the Nursing Facility Quality Improvement Program Advisory Committee. Funding for the Virginia Gold initiative will come from civil money penalties imposed and collected when nursing facilities are found to be out of compliance when surveyed by the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Licensure and Certification on behalf of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
Projects will be evaluated to determine the effectiveness of the strategies implemented by each grantee. Following the conclusion of the grants, best practices from successful projects will be disseminated statewide for wider implementation.
To learn more about the Virginia Gold project and other activities related to long-term care services, call the Department of Medical Assistance Services, Division of Long-Term Care at 804-225-4222 or visit the Department of Medical Assistance Services' web site at www.dmas.virginia.gov and click on Long Term Care and Waiver Services.
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