LOCAL CAREGIVER RECEIVES HONOR AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Selma Summers, a Certifited Nurses Aid at Chaffee Nursing Center- skilled Nursing by Americare, recently received the "Hometown Hospitality" award at the company's annual Caregiver Conference held in St. Louis. Over 300 of Americare's top frontline staff attended the conference having been nominated by their peers and facility residents.

The Hometown Hospitality distinction is awarded to a caregiver who best demonstrates outstanding customer service in the interactions with residents and visitors . To be eligible for the award the employee must have achieved the rank of Customer Experience Officer (CEO) in the company's customer service training program. By doing so they have worked through four levels of training and now serve as a customer service mentor for new staff.

Selma has been with Chaffee Nursing Center since 2008. Her nomination cites the close bond she has developed with many residents and their families during that time. Nominations for the award are submitted and reviewed by a panel of individuals selected with the help of the National Association of Certified Nurse Aides. No members of the judging panel have any ties to Americare and review each nomination on its merits -- never knowing the name of the nominee or the location of their community.

According to Americare President, Clay Crosson, the purpose of the annual Caregiver Conference is to both honor and educate the company's frontline staff. "But the awards are definitely the highlight of the event," comments Crosson. "The goal of the judging process is to have nominations reviewed from the perspective of a resident or their family because that's our true measure of quality. It's how it feels to our customer, not whether we meet some regulatory standard or benchmark. Just by being nominated to attend the conference you're considered a winner," he finishes.

Americare is a privately-held long-term care provider based in Missouri. The company is the only one in the industry that invests in a conference of this size for its front-line staff.

Chaffee Nursing Center is located at 12273 State Hwy 77, Chaffee, MO 63740.