Business Results – Quality Enhancement

Joanne Mueller
Director, Supportive Living, Capital Health

Aware of strains within today’s health-care system, Joanne Mueller looked for a solution. What she found was an alternative care program that provides accommodation and health-care services to people in a community setting.

For a decade, Mueller has been responsible for the development and management of Capital Health’s Supportive Living Program. Her work improving the program’s services and processes has resulted in shorter wait lists to get into continuing care facilities and increased speeds in which people are discharged from acute care.

More than 1,400 people now live in a non-institutional setting thanks to Mueller’s work as a leader, and 2,000 are projected to in the next few years. It’s also expected that growth of supportive living option will continue to alleviate pressures within the health-care system in years to come.

Mueller’s real accomplishment, though, has been in the delivery and improvement of top-notch care. Her hand-picked team of health-care professionals and support staff have helped people deal with needs relating to aging, substance abuse, physical disability and mental illness. Mueller also introduced client satisfaction surveys and monthly reviews to help improve the program, as well as standards for supportive housing.

Making things run smoothly comes easy for Mueller. “Doing meaningful work that has a positive impact on people’s lives is very rewarding,” she says. “I feel fortunate to be in this field.”

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