PEAK Nursing Homes Initiative
The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) is committed to ensuring high quality services for Kansas nursing home residents. For the past ten years, KDADS has been recognizing nursing homes for successfully implementing culture change through the Promoting Excellent Alternatives in Kansas Nursing Homes program commonly known as PEAK. Although the phrase “culture change” may have different meanings, it gave rise to new ideas on how the focus of care could be changed from the type of services provided to the person receiving those services. As a result, the personal preference of residents has become as important as providing the services and supports they need.
From the beginning of PEAK, KDADS pursued two primary goals. First, the agency presented annual awards to homes which accomplished significant culture change. Second, KDADS worked to educate others about the culture change movement and the accomplishments being made in Kansas.
Through the PEAK awards program, KDADS has recognized 63 different providers for their efforts to adopt culture change. The awards program continues to recognize homes for significant improvements in the areas of resident choice, staff empowerment, environment, and meaningful life.
Building on the successful history of PEAK, the agency is moving in expanded directions. KDADS will continue to recognize homes for their accomplishments with culture change. However, with publication of the PEAK Resource Guide, the generic phrase of “culture change” has been replaced by the more understandable phrase of “person-centered care.” The latter better describes the kind of care KDADS wants to encourage.
Finally, KDADS recognizes that developing person-centered care in all nursing homes will not happen overnight. Therefore, to quicken the pace of adoption, the agency has redesigned the pay-for-performance incentives included in the Medicaid nursing facility reimbursement methodology.
Facilities must submit an application for consideration for a PEAK 2.0 Award. Criteria for each award category is outlined in the PEAK 2.0 Resource Kit.Finalists will be visited by a panel of professionals before awards are determined. Award-winning nursing homes will be recognized with a plaque that will be presented by the Secretary of the Department for Aging and Disability Services.
The response to the PEAK program Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 was outstanding but the volume of review work exceeded our capacity. In order to advance the goals of the program and to encourage even broader participation, the initiative begun in FY 2013 will be extended in FY 2014. The plan for PEAK in FY 2014 is:
- Enrolled homes will continue at their current FY 2013 (July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013) level for FY 2014 (July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014).
- Homes that submitted action plans during FY 2013 will have extra time to show that the home has accomplished a minimum of seventy-five percent (75%) of the goals outlined in the action plan. The Kansas State Center on Aging will continue to work with these homes on their action plans and their progress on their goals.
- Homes that submitted a narrative and were recognized as a person-centered care home, or were recognized for sustaining or mentoring person-centered care will continue at those incentive levels through FY 2014.
- Homes that were not enrolled in the PEAK 2.0 incentive for FY 2013 will be given an opportunity to start the program at level 1 for FY 2014. This will require homes to register with KDADS for PEAK 2.0 and complete the KCCI surveys. These homes will also be required to participate in the PEAK education opportunities through the Kansas State Center on Aging. Contact Laci Cornelison at (785) 532-2776 or email KSUCOA@gmail.com for more information regarding the education opportunities.
Homes interested in participating in the PEAK program that have not already registered and applied are welcome to do so using the online forms below. The registration and application process must be completed by no later than April 30, 2013. To apply for PEAK a home’s leadership team is required to complete the KCCI culture change instrument. All forms must be completed and submitted electronically in order to be considered. If a home encounters a problem completing and submitting forms, please contact Rhonda Boose at 785-368-6685 or email Rhonda.Boose@kdads.ks.gov.
PEAK Registration (PDF)
Kansas Culture Change Instrument (PDF)
Culture Change Educational Modules
In order to meet the educational objectives of PEAK, KDADS contracted with KSU to produce educational materials to assist nursing homes. KSU has produced a booklet entitled “Pioneering Change in Kansas Nursing Homes.” This book has been distributed to all Kansas nursing homes and other parties involved in the nursing home profession and can be viewed at KSU’s website at www.k-state.edu/peak/. In addition, KSU staff have developed the following training modules, also available on their website:
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These modules were researched and written by staff in the Kansas State University Center on Aging as a part of the PEAK project. Updates to these modules will be available in the future through the Center on Aging. KSU staff are available for consultation and other services related to culture change in nursing homes. Contact the Center on Aging at 785-532-5945 or gerontology@k-state.edu for information on the module updates and/or the fee schedule for consultation and other services.
KDADS would like to thank the many sponsors and organizations that have supported this initiative, including the PEAK Advisory Board. Members include the following organizations:
- LeadingAge Kansas
- Kansas Health Care Association (KHCA)
- Kansas Hospital Association (KHA)
- Kansas Adult Care Executives (KACE)
- Kansas Advocates for Better Care (KABC)
- Kansas Foundation for Medical Care (KFMC)
Future Activities
The PEAK initiative should prove to be even more exciting in the coming year. KDADS continues its contract with the Kansas State University’s (KSU) Center on Aging to develop training materials and provide assistance to nursing home providers transitioning to person-centered care. KSU will use the information received in this year’s PEAK applications as a basis for educational materials, and as inspiration for other homes to embrace change. KSU will continue developing the educational opportunities and PEAK newsletters.
KDADS continues to support the Kansas Culture Change Coalition, with the PEAK Initiative providing a part of the overall culture change activities.
For more information on the PEAK initiative, contact Rhonda Boose at (785) 368-6685 or by email at Rhonda.Boose@kdads.ks.gov.