The New Jersey Hospital Association presented its Innovation in Elder Services Award to Inspira Health‘s Al’Asia Powell, director of quality and patient safety at Inspira LIFE, Living Independently for Elders.
The award recognizes Powell’s interdisciplinary leadership that has advanced and transformed service delivery. Inspira LIFE is a federally recognized Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. Its primary mission is to keep elders, who qualify for nursing home-level care, independent and living in their community with a good quality of life.
“Our LIFE program aims to help senior participants stay in the home they love, while receiving the care they need,” Amy Mansue, CEO and president of Inspira Health, stated. “This program was especially critical throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, as senior residents were at a high risk. I want to congratulate Al’Asia for her outstanding efforts to ensure the highest quality of care to our community members and this well-deserved honor.”
The COVID-19 pandemic forced Powell’s department to shift its focus — from providing an in-person experience to meeting the needs of its participants via telehealth and phone. Under her leadership, the team was able to quickly pivot from center-based care to home-based care. Powell oversaw significant shifts to her department’s day-to-day care routines, including new telehealth processes, electronic risk reporting, and overall safety measures for the program.
“At LIFE, we strive to be a care partner and advocate for every participant, and Al’Asia has exemplified that through her leadership,” Mia Dempsey-Stahl, executive director, Inspira LIFE, said. “Not only was she able to seamlessly navigate unforeseen challenges, but she also exceeded expectations by improving the participant experience and brought forward thinking and vision to expand LIFE’s service area — even in extraordinary circumstances. It’s an honor to have Al’Asia on the team and I’m looking forward to continue watching her impact on our participants and the program.”
