Quality First for Boards and Trustees

UPDATED: February 7, 2008

AAHSA Quality First is a philosophy of quality and a framework for earning public trust in aging services. AAHSA Quality First reinforces the commitment that not-for-profit aging services providers have to maximize quality of care and quality of life for older adults.

We believe that we can dramatically improve our field, and that boards of AAHSA member organizations are cornerstones of the aging services field.

The Governance and Accountability element of Quality First enables aging services providers to achieve and maintain excellence in management and governance. It calls for the establishment of structural mechanisms by which providers can enhance their leadership skills and refine quality improvement, corporate compliance, risk management and integrated strategic planning efforts.

The following characteristics — from the AAHSA Quality First Self-Study — will help Boards of Trustees begin to assess how well their organization's governance is aligned with Quality First:

• Our services reflect our vision, mission and the needs of our community.
• We act as responsible stewards of the public and private funds entrusted to us to provide care and services, and uphold principles of financial integrity throughout our operations.
• We have developed and adhere to a code of ethics. Our decisions are guided by our ethical beliefs and values.
• We have a corporate compliance program in place to ensure that we consistently adhere to all local, state and federal laws and regulations.
• We engage in integrated strategic planning to ensure our future success. The integrated strategic planning process is a collaborative effort that engages and involves the participation, creative thinking and innovation of key stakeholders, producing an integrated "map" of all the significant factors necessary for successfully meeting vision and mission.
• We have a technology plan that addresses innovations that will reduce labor costs and create better work environments; prevent medical errors; streamline recordkeeping; and monitor levels of care as well as staff performance.

Excellence in aging services requires commitment, responsibility and a belief that aging has a fulfilling purpose in life, and that our society's elders have an enduring value to family and community.

AAHSA is pleased to offer the tools, information, education and support to assist our members in fulfilling their commitment to the Quality First Covenant at www.aahsa.org/qualityfirst.