Atlantic Specialty Care chosen for Governor’s Award

Atlantic Specialty Care has received the 2016 Governor’s Award for Quality Care in Health Care Facilities.  A formal presentation will take place Friday, Sept. 23 at 10:30 a.m.

The Atlantic facility was nominated by a family member of three former residents, all of whom required special care and attention due to their illnesses.  “Atlantic Specialty Care provided extraordinary and compassionate care for three members of my family over a 23-year period,” Martha Sheil of Plymouth, MI, wrote. 

Martha’s sister-in-law, Beverly, had Huntington’s disease as did two of Beverly’s three children, Carol Ann and Jim.  Beverly was placed at Atlantic Specialty Care by a social worker where, with the excellent care provided by the facility’s staff, she resided for 18 years.  When it became apparent that Carol Ann, too, required assistance, Martha contacted 27 nursing homes in the Omaha area, all of which declined to accept a resident with Huntington’s disease.

“At wits end,” Martha said she called Atlantic Specialty Care and Administrator Kellie Jimerson answered.  ‘Of course we will take Carol Ann, to honor her mother,’ the administrator said, adding: ‘We loved Bev. She was family to us.  I know Carol from all the years she visited her mom.’ A year later, Jimmy, too, was admitted to the facility as the symptoms of the disease progressed.  The brother and sister were able to be together for nearly a year prior to Jimmy’s death in 2015.

“I will be forever grateful to Atlantic Specialty Care for admitting Beverly, Jimmy and Carol Ann,” Martha wrote.  The facility took her family members when no one else would and was so kind and supportive to all of them.

Everyone provided a “loving family atmosphere,” Martha concluded. “They were all so kind to my loved ones, the rest of my family, and to me for more than 23 years.”

The Governor’s Award for Quality Care was established to recognize long-term care facilities that provide – in the nominator’s opinion – a high level of care to their residents.  This year’s Governor’s Award recipients were selected from a field of 17 nominated facilities. Since the first awards were presented in 2001, a total of 53 awards have been presented to 46 individual facilities.

Once a nomination is received by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA), it is evaluated by staff in the Health Facilities Division according to established criteria.  DIA personnel also conduct onsite visits to the selected facilities to talk with nominators, residents, family members and staff. 

“What is most unique about the Governor’s Award for Quality Care is the fact that facilities are nominated by those they serve or the family members of their residents,” Governor Branstad explained.

“The stories told by the nominators of their experiences at these facilities transcend the selection criteria for a Governor’s Award,” Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds said, adding: “They speak to the very heart of what a health care facility should be – a community of individuals lovingly caring for their residents.”

“The fact that Atlantic Specialty Care opened its doors to a resident that no other facility would admit is a testament to Atlantic’s commitment to serve its community,” Governor Branstad added.