This film provides insight into the How of Change and the use of individualized care to drive clinical improvement. It is a useful resource for implementing changes based on the New Revisions to the CMS Quality of Life Survey Guidelines.

The film was created by the American Health Quality Foundation to guide Quality Improvement Organizations and nursing homes interested in using a quality improvement approach to individualizing care and initiating culture change. Funding for this film was provided by The Commonwealth Foundation and Quality Partners of Rhode Island. B&F Consulting guided the production of this film as a model for an effective change process that starts with nursing and relies on inclusive and empowering leadership.

It features the work of Connie McDonald, Administrative Director for MaineGeneral Rehabilitation and Nursing Care, Augusta, ME, and her staff, in their successful efforts to transform from institutional to individualized care. They introduced Gentle Awakening to start off mornings according to each resident’s natural waking time. They individualized night routines so that residents can now get a good night’s sleep. In the process, they changed their food delivery and activities, reduced their use of suppositories and alarms, and made other changes in daily care to support residents’ own routines. Residents have thrived and so have staff.

Their story was featured in the CMS Four Part Webcast Series, From Institutional to Individualized Care.

Copies of this video can be purchased by calling Imageworks at telephone number: 619-239-6161. It is included here with permission from the American Health Quality Association.