Contact: Ross Boettcher
920-206-4430
Ross.boettcher@mailblc.org
Watertown, Wis. – Bethesda Lutheran Communities, a leading provider of person-centered and community-based services for people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, has earned Network Accreditation in Person-Centered Excellence from the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQLSM).
Bethesda is the first organization in the world to earn network accreditation, which covers all six of Bethesda’s regions and corporate operations. The Network Accreditation marks the conclusion of a multi-year process, which included comprehensive evaluation of the organization’s operations, intensive staff training, and consultation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and family and community members.
Network Accreditation in Person-Centered Excellence is a national endorsement that reflects Bethesda’s commitment to deliver person-centered services to people with developmental disabilities. Person-Centered Excellence (PCE) is a multi-faceted approach to providing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities the power to choose and direct supports that make a difference in their lives.
“I am very proud of Bethesda as an organization and what this accomplishment signifies, including our commitment to excellence for the people we support in each of our six regions,” said Dr. John E. Bauer, president and CEO of Bethesda. “With the help of CQL, Bethesda has mapped-out its goals and priorities that will serve as pillars to our continuous organizational transformation.”
A quality enhancement team and staff from each of Bethesda’s regions worked with CQL since 1999 in areas including leadership development, assessment, evaluation and continuous improvement.
In 2011, Bethesda received Network Certification in Basic Assurances® from CQL and immediately began building on that success by pursuing Network Accreditation in Person-Centered Excellence.
“Earning Network Accreditation in Person-Centered Excellence shows the commitment of Bethesda to take-on this massive undertaking,” said Becky Hansen, vice president of accreditation and training for CQL. “There has been a tremendous amount of work that has led up to Bethesda’s accreditation.”
Said Beth Mathis, vice president of business development for CQL: “This groundbreaking accomplishment is reflective of an incredibly intentional process to develop a corporate culture focused on people that we find to be outstanding and exemplary.”
