March 6, 2009

A panel of judges with expertise in the senior care market, and independently appointed by the AMDA Foundation, selected three nursing home facilities from nominations throughout the country. Among other guidelines, winning facilities developed and implemented programs which measurably improved the quality of life within their nursing homes. The programs must be both sustainable and able to be replicated in other facilities.

Winning facilities will receive $10,000 each. The 2009 AMDA Foundation/Evercare® Award winners are:

• Bethany Health Care Center, Framingham, Mass., for the development of the Bethany Health Care Center Model of Care
• Elderwood Health Care at Lakewood, Hamburg, N.Y., for its program to reduce avoidable ER visits and acute hospitalizations
• Potomac Valley Nursing and Wellness Center, Rockville, Md., for its Potomac Valley Palliative Care Program

“We are excited to see so many high quality submissions for this award and congratulate the winners for their innovative projects,” said Jonathan Musher, MD, CMD, AMDA Foundation chair. “These nursing homes stand out as true examples of how we can develop cutting-edge programs that advance excellence in patient care and promote quality of life in the long-term care continuum.”

Innovation is essential to providing nursing home residents with the highest level of quality care that’s best suited to their individualized needs,” said John Mach, MD, a geriatrician and chairman of Evercare. “These nursing homes have set a strong and inspiring standard through their creative and impactful program design.”

About The American Medical Directors Association Foundation
The AMDA Foundation, an independent not-for-profit organization, serves as the research arm of AMDA. The Foundation's mission is: “The AMDA Foundation advances excellence and innovation in the long term care continuum through research and its translation into practice. The Foundation educates and inspires current and future long term care professionals." The Foundation also takes an active role in outreach to residents, fellows and young career physicians with an interest in long term care. Visit the AMDA Foundation at www.amdafoundation.org.

About UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth Group (www.unitedhealthgroup.com) is a diversified health and well-being company dedicated to making health care work better. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through six operating businesses: UnitedHealthcare, Ovations, AmeriChoice, OptumHealth, Ingenix, and Prescription Solutions. Through its family of businesses, UnitedHealth Group serves more than 70 million individuals nationwide.

About Evercare
Evercare, a unit of Ovations, a business UnitedHealth Group, is one of the largest care coordination programs for individuals living with disabilities, long-term or advanced illness.

Founded in 1987, Evercare serves more than 300,000 people nationwide through its health plans, hospice care and caregiver support.