CHAPTER 54
GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR QUALITY CARE
481—54.1(135C) Purpose. A governor’s award for quality care is established to recognize health care facilities in Iowa that demonstrate provision of the highest quality care to residents. Health care facilities eligible for nomination and selection must be licensed pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 135C.
481—54.2(135C) Definitions.
“Community living training services” means those activities provided to assist a person to acquire or sustain the knowledge and skills essential to independent functioning to the person’s maximum potential in the physical and social environment.
“Department” means the department of inspections and appeals.
“Director” means the director of the department of inspections and appeals or the director’s designee.
“Health care facility” or “facility” means residential care facilities, nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities for persons with mental illness, and intermediate care facilities for persons with an intellectual disability licensed pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 135C.
“Nursing care” means those services that can be provided only under the direction of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.
“Personal care” means assistance with those activities of daily living that the recipient can perform only with difficulty. Examples are help in getting in and out of bed, assistance with personal hygiene and bathing, help with dressing and feeding, and supervision of medications that can be self-administered.
“Rehabilitative services” means services to encourage and assist restoration of optimum mental and physical capabilities of the individual resident of a health care facility.
“Social services” means services relating to the psychological and social needs of the individual in adjusting to living in a health care facility and minimizing stress arising from that circumstance.
[ARC 0766C, IAB 5/29/13, effective 7/3/13]
481—54.3(135C) Nomination. The department shall make available a nomination application no later than January 1 of each year. The department shall accept nominations until March 1 of each year.
481—54.4(135C) Applicant eligibility. Eligible nominations shall be made by a resident, family member of a resident or another health care facility. A health care facility cannot nominate itself for the award; however, this prohibition shall not apply to facilities with common ownership.
[ARC 1205C, IAB 12/11/13, effective 1/15/14]
481—54.5(135C) Nomination information. Applications for the governor’s quality care award shall contain but not be limited to the following information:
	54.5(1) The reasons that the nominated facility should be considered.
	54.5(2) Any unique or special care or services provided by the facility to its residents. Care or services include any unique or special nursing care, personal care, rehabilitative services, social services, or community living training services provided by the facility for its residents or involvement with the local community.
	54.5(3) Activities conducted by the facility to enhance the quality of life for its residents.
481—54.6(135C) Evaluation. The department shall review all nominations and select finalists based upon the material(s) provided in the nomination forms. The department shall also consider the following factors in making its selections:
	54.6(1) The facility report card completed pursuant to Iowa Code section 135C.20A.
	54.6(2) Any unique services provided by a facility to its residents to improve the quality of care in the facility.
	54.6(3) Any information submitted by resident advocacy committee members, residents, a resident’s family members, or facility staff with regard to the quality of care provided by the facility to its residents.
	54.6(4) Whether the facility accepts residents for whom costs are paid under Iowa Code chapter 249A.
	54.6(5) Whether there are any outstanding complaints against the facility, as well as the resolution of any complaint already investigated by the department.
	54.6(6) Whether the annual fiscal review conducted by the department indicated any irregularities in the residents’ accounts.
481—54.7(135C) Selection of finalists. When reviewing the nominations, the department shall rank all facilities according to the above criteria. The ranked list of facilities shall be provided to the director for further review and consideration. When the final selection is made, no more than two facilities from each congressional district shall be recognized as award winners.
481—54.8(135C) Certificate of recognition. Prior to the final selection of facilities, representatives from the department will tour all facilities still in contention to determine the winners. Each winning facility will receive a certificate in recognition of its designation as a quality health care provider. The winning facilities shall be announced and recognized annually at the governor’s conference on aging.
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code sections 10A.104(5), 135C.14 and 135C.20B.
[Filed 6/9/00, Notice 1/12/00—published 6/28/00, effective 8/2/00]
[Filed 1/12/05, Notice 12/8/04—published 2/2/05, effective 3/9/05]
[Filed ARC 0766C (Notice ARC 0601C, IAB 2/6/13), IAB 5/29/13, effective 7/3/13]
[Filed ARC 1205C (Notice ARC 1082C, IAB 10/2/13), IAB 12/11/13, effective 1/15/14]