NCAL, NJ launch first national patient safety organization for assisted living

The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) and the New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA) today announced the launch of the first national patient safety group for assisted living. The effort will monitor clinical outcomes and performance measures at NCAL-member assisted living communities across the country.

NJHA already had a certified patient safety organization (PSO) in place, so NCAL chose to tap into NJHA’s experience in collecting clinical data. Through the partnership, the new national initiative will collect information on hospital readmissions, falls, medication errors, pressure ulcers and other data.

“Assisted living communities have always been committed to high quality care, but this PSO changes the ballgame. Having the data that demonstrates this commitment is paramount in today’s health care world,” said Dave Kyllo, Executive Director of NCAL, in today's announcement.

Registration has begun on the PSO’s website, www.ncalpso.org. NCAL hopes to begin collecting data on January 1, 2014.

Related story: Safety, quality goals of new NCAL collaboration

Pamela Tabar

Pamela Tabar was editor-in-chief of I Advance Senior Care from 2013-2018. She has worked as a writer and editor for healthcare business media since 1998, including as News Editor of Healthcare Informatics. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Kent State University and a master’s degree in English from the University of York, England.