Advocates Call for Collaboration to Strengthen Healthcare in Delaware, Break Down Barriers

Health professionals across sectors announce joint advocacy agenda

(Dover, DE – March 20, 2025) – Surrounded by elected officials and advocates, five leading health organizations on Thursday announced a first-ever cross-sector advocacy agenda to strengthen healthcare in the First State.

This coalition, made up of the Delaware Health Care Facilities Association, the Delaware Healthcare Association, Medical Society of Delaware, Delaware Nurses Association,  and Delaware Association for Home & Community Care, ushers in a new era of collaboration and coordination across sectors, emphasizing that solutions for healthcare are shared not siloed. The advocates coming together have expertise across the healthcare continuum including nursing and physician practice, home care, facilities, and hospitals.

The eight-point plan highlights the importance of working together toward real solutions that meet the needs of Delaware’s residents and healthcare community. The state’s growing and aging population, currently the nation’s 6th oldest and the 8th fastest growing, will continue to increase the demand for a robust healthcare infrastructure.

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First State Alliance in the News:

• McKnights Senior Living: Mentioned in Other States, Other Bills
• The Cape Gazette
• WGMD
• WBOS News

Get Certified in Gerontological Nursing Now and Save $200

Grow your RNs’ Gerontological Expertise During the Gero Nurse Prep Spring Sale! 

The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living’s Gero Nurse Prep course significantly increases RNs’ gerontological nursing competency test scores. Registrants can save $200 on Gero Nurse Prep through May 15, 2025 with promo code GROWRNS (all caps).

Research conducted by AHCA/NCAL in 2023 found compelling reasons to consider the Gero Nurse Prep course and ANCC Board certification for RNs. Nursing facilities with at least one ANCC Board certified RN experienced:   

• Lower rehospitalization rates for short stay and long stay residents
• Fewer deficiencies on average
• Fewer Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) citations
• More stars — twice as likely to be a CMS 5-Star facility (44% versus 19%)

READ FULL STORY HERE

Eagle’s Law Staffing Ratio Waiver Process Effective 1/1/25

2024 DHCFA Education Conference and Trade Show Scores a Touchdown!

November 7  |  Bally’s Casino Resort  |  Dover, DE

Cheers to all our attendees, speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors for making this a winning event!

Lofland Park’s Gray-Mears Honored as an AHCA/NCAL Future Leader

DHCFA on Board With Incite Group Purchasing Partnership

Delaware Health Care Facilities Association is partnering with Incite Strategic Partners, a Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) serving skilled nursing and assisted living providers. Delaware is one of 24 AHCA/NCAL State Affiliates to sign on to the program.

Visit the DHCFA/Incite webpage here to learn more about the savings & solutions, education and events, and resources available to members who sign on with Incite (which is free). This includes Blue Dot Community, Incite’s learning library with videos, articles, and links for dining and nutrition teams. Read more. 

Genesis Lofland Park Center Earns Top Honor for Superior Performance

Genesis Lofland Park Center, a 110-bed skilled nursing facility, has been recognized as a 2024 recipient of the Gold – Excellence in Quality Award by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). The award is the final step in three progressive levels of awards through the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program, which recognizes high-quality long term and post-acute care organizations.

Genesis Lofland Park was one of only two providers nationwide to receive the prestigious Gold – Excellence in Quality Award this year. Read more.

Staffing Shift Ratio Waiver Extended to January 1, 2025

The epilogue language in the  SB325 FY25 Operating Budget Bill, introduced and passed by the Senate and House on June 20, extends the staffing shift ratios waiver until January 1, 2025. Skilled nursing facilities must continue providing 3.28 hours of direct care per resident per day. 

While the waiver is in place, the Department of Health Care Quality will start collecting data on shift ratios to help measure where staffing challenges exist.