2025 Champion of Quality Award Winner Michelle Stuercke, center, pictured with TCM Management and Consulting colleagues. 

Dedicated Nurse Receives AHCA Mary K. Ousley Award

The American Health Care Association (AHCA) named Michelle Stuercke, Chief Clinical Officer at TCM Consulting and Management, as the 2025 recipient of the Mary K. Ousley Champion of Quality Award​. This award honors individuals who have significantly advanced quality performance in long term and post-acute care. “I am pleased to honor Michelle, who has committed herself to the long term care space and been a champion for the profession,” said Clif Porter, AHCA President and CEO. “Through her dedication and efforts, she has significantly advanced quality performance by helping facilities evaluate their systems and strive for improvements in quality care.” Stuercke is a member of the AHCA Clinical Practice Committee and has chaired the AHCA Falls Sub-Committee, creating evidence-based tools to reduce fall rates and enhance resident safety across diverse care settings. Currently, she co-leads AHCA’s Behavior Management Sub-Committee, advancing non-pharmacological strategies for behavior management and reducing unnecessary antipsychotic use. Stuercke has also served as an examiner for the AHCA/NCAL Quality Awards for the last seven years. Stuercke has made a national impact on the long term and post-acute care profession through spearheading education initiatives to elevate the role of behavioral health in improving resident outcomes through person-centered care. She has led training on reducing staff burnout and supporting staff mental health, providing practical tools to sustain high-quality care in high-stress environments. Stuerke has advocated for policies that integrate behavioral health into quality frameworks, bridging clinical care with emotional and psychological well-being. Currently, she serves as an expert panelist for the United States Cost of Dementia Model: Quantifying Current and Future Impacts of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias funded by the National Institute on Aging. On the state level, Stuercke has championed policy reforms in Illinois, working with others, including HCCI, the Illinois state affiliate of AHCA/NCAL of which TCM Management is a member, to achieve the inclusion of a quality add-on in the Medicaid reimbursement system. In addition to being a registered nurse, Stuercke is a licensed nursing home administrator and QAPI-certified practitioner. She earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, her Master’s in Public Health degree from Roosevelt University, and Doctorate in Geriatric Nursing from Rush University. Each year, AHCA presents the Mary K. Ousley Champion of Quality Award to an individual who has made significant national contributions to advancing quality performance in long term and post-acute care. Recipients display leadership in the development, promotion, and implementation of quality improvement initiatives that have resulted in measurable outcomes.   Reprinted from Provider Magazine. 

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Congresswoman Natalie Manley, a member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 98th district, recently toured Joliet Terrace, a behavioral and intermediate care center managed by TCM Consulting and Management.

During the visit, Representative Manley engaged with staff, residents, and guests and asked thoughtful questions about the unique needs of individuals receiving care at Joliet Terrace and the challenges of providing behavioral health services in Illinois.

The discussion highlighted key issues about the complexities involved with providing services in behavioral and intermediate care settings, success stories of individuals who have benefited greatly from these services, and the need for additional resources to help improve patient outcomes.

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"Representative Manely's visit provided a valuable opportunity to address concerns and emphasize the importance of ongoing support for behavioral health services in the state," said Sabrena McCarley, Director of Clinical Reimbursement with TCM Consulting and Management. "We are grateful for her interest, time, and commitment to understanding the needs of the community."

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Legislative Visits Foster Greater Understanding

Joliet, Bourbonnais, and West Chicago hosted key state representatives, giving insightful tours of our unique services.

“More than opportunities to display our facilities – these were crucial opportunities to highlight the meaningful work we do and the challenges we face to help ensure that our voices are heard and patient needs are at the forefront of legislative discussions." ~Sabrena McCarley, Director of Clinical Reimbursement

Joliet Terrace welcomed Senator Rachel Ventura, a Joliet native and representative for Illinois’ 43rd Senate District. Her visit provided a valuable opportunity to discuss our services and advocate for the needs of our patients.

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Bourbonnais Terrace hosted District State Representative Jackie Haas from the 79th House District. This visit was instrumental in addressing our centers' challenges and fostering a deeper understanding of our commitment to patient care.

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West Chicago Terrace hosted Senator Karina Villa, a West Chicago native, and Representative Maura Hirschauer, a 103rd General Assembly of Illinois member, for a tour showcasing the unique services offered to patients. Both senators are strong advocates for the community and mental health services. This visit provided an excellent opportunity to discuss challenges and successes and engage in a lively conversation to benefit community members.

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Eagle Scout’s Generous Gift Brightens The Terrace

Eagle Scout John Gorsica recently donated two hand-crafted raised planter boxes and an outdoor bench to the Terrace Nursing Home. John financed and made these items as part of his summer Eagle Scout project from Troop 303 in Grayslake.

The planters and bench are a wonderful gift for everyone at The Terrace who will enjoy the beauty of the outdoors and John's hard work!

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Based on input from and questionnaires completed by our team members, our centers are now officially certified as Great Places to Work!

An official certification process that gathers from people who work at our centers revealed that our company-wide employee trust index level rose over prior years by 26.4%, and our response rate surged by 63.8%! In fact, the following communities boast a trust index of over 65%:

• Bourbonnais Terrace
• Crestwood Terrace
• Frankfort Terrace
• The Terrace
• West Chicago Terrace

Special shout out to Joliet Terrace for their astounding 98% participation rate! Well done, and thank you to everyone who helps make our centers Great Places to Work!

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TCM Consulting and Management Director of Clinical Reimbursement Sabrina McCarley, MBA-SL, OTR/L, CLIPP, RAC-CT, QCP, FAOTA, offers her expertise in the following article from McKnight's Long-Term Care News. Audits of skilled nursing providers are likely to increase this year, with a growing number of federal and state recovery audits adding to specialized compliance reviews announced last year. In 2023, regulators instituted audits of facilities using potentially inappropriate diagnoses of schizophrenia, as well as a new, five-claim audit of every US nursing home that was specifically meant to root out improper payments. Now, routine audits run by the federal Medicare Fee for Service Recovery Audit Program and states looking to ensure payment accuracy through the Medicaid program are roaring back to life. “While RAC audits practically halted during the COVID-19 pandemic, activity has picked up substantially following the end of the public health emergency,” attorney Amy Fouts wrote in BakerHostetler’s Healthcare Industry 2023 Year in Review published Thursday. While some of the Recovery Audit Contractor activity is moving toward outpatient services, she warned inpatient providers such as skilled nursing operators to stay vigilant for more scrutiny. So, too, does Sabrena McCarley, director of clinical Reimbursement for TCM Consulting and Management. While she won’t go so far as to call any 2023 increases in RAC activity an “explosion,” she said her company and others who provide billing and compliance support to nursing homes are seeing “an increase in audits of everything.” “The floodgates, essentially, have opened,” said McCarley, secretary of the National Association of Rehabilitation Providers and Agencies. “When you just talk about the RAC audit, people think, ‘Oh I’m totally excepted. I don’t take Medicare. I’m never going to see an audit.’ … They kind of get in this trap. They’re in a bubble, and then they don’t know what to do when their bubble bursts.”

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TCM Consulting and Management’s new Administrator in Training program (AIT) provides hands-on, specialized learning and mentoring opportunities.

The nine 2023/2024 participants were invited to expand their horizons (and their career options) with Transitional Care University’s inaugural four-module, 460-hour administrative learning opportunity. They will gain practical career-advancing knowledge and experience in Long-Term Care, Skilled Nursing, Memory Care, and Behavioral Health. Transitional Care University AIT grads earn:

• Supplemental, fast-track specialized training that is an ideal “next step” for professionals on an administrative career path
• A certificate of course completion
• Skills to further enhance career progression
• Administrator in Training title
• Opportunity for growth within the organization.

In addition, this program meets supplemental criteria for LNHA exam (dependent on individual licensure criteria) and helps prepare candidates to take licensure exams. The program will run annually with next class starting Fall of 2024. Talk to your administrator or contact Contact Terri Galloway, Director of Talent Acquisition, at TGalloway@tc-mgmt.com for more information.

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