Pennsylvania Culture Change Coalition Our Journey

The pioneers to Culture Change and how PCCC started The Pioneer Network was formed in 1997 by a small group of prominent professionals in long-term care to advocate for person-centered care. This group called for radical changes in the culture of aging so that when our grandparents, parents and ultimately ourselves go to a nursing home or other community-based setting it is to thrive, not to decline.

This movement was away from institutional provider-driven model to a more human consumer-driven model that embrace flexibility and self-determination, and has come to be known as the long-term care culture change movement. The PN partners and audiences are primarily engaged in some aspect of long-term care; including long-term care CEO’s, administrators, consumers and family caregivers, doctors and nurses, direct care providers, and others who care about, and care for, the aging.

The beginning of PCCCC The PCCC began as a movement stemming from the desire of it’s founders to create change in how elders were cared for in PA. In 1999, Mary Anne Kelly, the first executive director of SWPPA served on the symposium convened by PA Auditor General Robert Casey, Jr. From that group of innovative individuals, major elder care industry organizations came together in 2000 to form the PCCC.

In 2001 SWPPA was awarded a 500,000 five year grant by the McCune Foundation to educate providers and consumers on culture change. SWPPA Exe. Dir Mary Anne Kelly and her associate Heather Sedlacko carried that mission to all of PA and along with Joe Angelelli of the PN, they took the culture change message to a number of other states. This resulted in the establishment of state culture change coalitions across the nation…..Pennsylvania being the first and now the oldest of the 38 that have started.

The Coalition continued with its advocacy work as it brought several recommendations to Governor Rendell in 2003: Coordinate long-term care reforms through the new office of Health Care Reform. Launch the “Better Jobs-Better Care Program”. Use existing state funds for training in “Culture Change” practices. Design and implement improved training for director care workers. Develop a measuring tool that ensures accountability for public funds spent on long-term care.

Our commitment to Culture Change continues today…… We have three teams across PA,- Eastern, Central and Western - that come together every November to share in the ACCORD, a one day education event that began in 2008 at the Sheraton in Mars with Dr. Bill Thomas as our keynote speaker. This year the ACCORD was held in Harrisburg with more than 200 folks attending various workshops on all aspects of culture change in long-term care.

Education is our focus… We provide four free education webinars across the state each year in approximately 20 locations on all subject matters related to culture change and long-term care. These are presented by healthcare professionals from around the country, representing all disciplines. These events include time for networking, a 45 minute presentation with Q & A and closes with a learning circle.

Culture Change through the eyes of the surveyor This was our closing session at our recent ACCORD in Harrisburg, we were privileged to have the following individuals from the PA Department of Health. Susan Williamson (Director, Division of Nursing Care Facilities) Kristen Bishop (Training Manager and Quality Assurance Director) Charles Schlegel (Director, Division of Safety Inspections

Our Future……….. This past year our board began a journey to better define who we are as a coalition. United around a desire to have a new name, a brand, and a logo that more aptly defines and expresses our identity, we partnered with Varsity Branding. Our team very quickly began to come up with a clear voice that would help us to express who we are and what our passion is when it comes to serving elders in our home state.

This morning I am thrilled to announce that we have a new name, a new logo, and a redefined mission and vision for the future. We will no longer be known as the PA Culture Change Coalition, although we hold that history close to our hearts. Our new name embodies our passion for empowering elders to use their voices. Our new name gives a voice to Pennsylvania Elders and their care partners to bring about change that we all long to see….. Empowered elders living self-directed lives.

I would invite you to turn your attention to the screen to view an expression of our new brand and at the end to be introduced to our new name and logo. As providers and individuals you are now partnered with VOICE to be a part of the inspired change. Our hope is that we will not only use our voice to transform our state but also to hear the voice of our elders and take their lead.