(Anchorage, AK)—Eight Alaska nursing homes were recognized as the 2008-2009 recipients of Mountain-Pacific Quality Health’s Quality Awards on September 10, 2009, during the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association (ASHNHA) annual conference.

The Excellence in Care Award, the highest award, was presented to

• Petersburg Medical Center LTC,
• Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center LTC,
• Wildflower Court and
• Providence Valdez Medical Center.

To qualify for the Excellence in Care Award, nursing homes were required to improve care on publicly reported measures and be at the 25th percentile or better on high-risk pressure ulcers and physical restraints and achieve a 95% or better level of willing and eligible residents vaccinated for influenza and up-to-date on their pneumococcal vaccinations.

Four nursing homes received the Quality Achievement Award. To qualify for this award, nursing homes had to have improved care on publicly reported measures and be at the 40th percentile or better on high-risk pressure ulcers and physical restraints and achieve an 85% or better level of willing and eligible residents vaccinated for influenza and up-to-date on their pneumococcal vaccinations.

The nursing homes recognized with this award were 

• Denali Center,
• Heritage Place,
• Providence Seward Medical and Care Center, and
• and Quyanna Care Center.

This is the first year Mountain-Pacific has included nursing homes in its award program which has, in past years recognized hospitals throughout Alaska for their commitment to providing quality care in selected clinical areas.