Pittsburgh VA Community Living Center now a five-star facility

The Community Living Center (CLC) at Pittsburgh VA is now a five-star facility, VA's highest rating possible for its nursing homes.

VA evaluates its CLCs quarterly or yearly on three main areas: staffing, quality measures and independent survey results. Internal and external survey results contribute to an overall CLC rating of one to five stars.

The five-star rating confirms for Veterans and their families that our CLC residents are receiving the highest level and best quality care available.

"Veterans should derive a sense of satisfaction, pride and trust from the five-star rating," said Dr. Stephen Handler, associate chief of staff. "Our CLC in Pittsburgh prioritizes quality," but noted that "It will take work to sustain."

Pictured above, staff sign a banner commemorating the five-star rating. The banner reads: "Thanks to our employees! It takes a team of stars to deliver top-quality care to our nation's Veterans."

To achieve the five-star rating, Pittsburgh VA hired data coordinators, designated a quality and patient safety coordinator, implemented a team approach to survey readiness, adjusted care as appropriate based on residents' feedback, and increased process-improvement initiatives, staff education and nursing hours per patient per day.

Quality management specialist Pam Carpenter leads survey readiness. She meets regularly with work groups to assess and brainstorm ways to improve the quality of care provided to CLC residents. "We strive to give Veterans the best quality care. VA looks at 31 quality measures when rating its CLCs," Carpenter said.

Carpenter and Handler said Pittsburgh VA prioritizes a multi-disciplinary approach to care, striving for perfection at every level. "We all work and collaborate toward a common goal and that goal is serving Veterans," said Handler.