The AE PCC quality indicators are the first of their kind to address this measurement challenge. Twelve NHs tested the PCC toolkit and found it easy to implement in short and long stay

settings. All pilot sites stated that they would participate in the AE national roll out of the PCC indicators and they would recommend the toolkit to others. Pilot sites highlighted several strengths of the toolkit. First, the interviews are readily acceptable to consumers. Sites reported that the questions were easy GSK269962 research buy for residents to understand and that residents were able to identify what was important to them. Families were impressed with the NH’s implicit commitment to quality of care, as evidenced by asking questions about a loved one’s preferences. Staff members, too, received the toolkit well. Social workers, recreation staff, nurses, and direct care workers were able to interview residents and enter data into the Excel spreadsheet. Several sites commented on the value of involving CNAs in the preference interview process, especially

as it related to personal care questions. For the pilot study, sites were given several different options for the choice of interviewer for the preference and satisfaction portions of the interview. A majority opted to have the same person conduct both components, which may have led to some bias. In the future, it would be prudent to have different individuals conduct each part of the interview; as noted click here in the AE PCC implementation guide, residents are more likely to give forthright answers if the preference satisfaction interviewer is not directly involved in the

resident’s care.23 The literature suggests that the choice of interviewer is an important one. A recent study24 found that Veterans Administration NH residents were most comfortable discussing the quality of their care with licensed nursing staff, followed by physicians, family/friends, social workers and administrators. Residents were least comfortable CYTH4 talking with nurse aides. The authors suggest that residents may hesitate to tell a direct caregiver that they are dissatisfied with their care, and they may see licensed nurses as having the greatest influence on quality. The study recommends that licensed nurses and primary care professionals should routinely ask residents about their quality of care, an option that is possible with the AE PCC toolkit. Pilot communities reported the PCC toolkit’s graphic displays and outputs provided a useful visual resource to help communities know “what we are doing well and what we need to keep working on.