The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) recently named local businesswoman Kelley Rice-Schild as a recipient of the Joe Warner Patient Advocacy Award at its 2013 Congressional Briefing event in Washington, DC.
The Joe Warner award honors AHCA/NCAL members who have worked diligently to educate members of Congress about the needs of longterm care patients and residents, and who have worked to advance quality care in the long term and post-acute care community.
Kelley Rice-Schild is executive director of Floridean Healthcare, which operates the oldest nursing home (The Floridean) in Miami. She also is owner/partner in Partner Care Pharmacy in South Florida. Rice- Schild comes from a background of longterm care, growing up in the familyowned facility that was established by her grandparents. She began working in Floridean’s activities department at the age of 18, and today continues the tradition of excellent service, leadership and responsibility to the community.
Her grandfather, Jack Rice, also founded Florida Health Care Association (FHCA), the state’s first and largest advocacy organization for longterm care providers.
Rice-Schild is a past FHCA president and has received numerous awards for her service to the longterm care profession, including FHCA’s highest honor, the Walter M. Johnson Circle of Excellence Award, as well as Nursing Home Administratorof the Year and the Arthur H. Harris Government Services Award.
Throughout her 20-plus years of service to longterm care, Rice-Schild has been a long-standing advocate for providers and the residents under their care. She has helped to educate numerous federal and state legislators about the profession, making regular trips to Washington, DC and Tallahassee to testify before members of Congress and the Florida Legislature on key longterm care issues. She also has hosted numerous facility tours, press conferences, petition signings and other events that promote the important link between adequate funding and high-quality care.
She is a member of the American College of Health Care Administrators and the American Society on Aging and is actively involved in the American Health Care Association, serving as chair of the Independent Owners Committee and past chair of the Political Involvement Committee.
Kelley Rice-Schildcurrently resides in Coral Gables and is married with three children.
“Kelley is a champion for residents and families all across the state of Florida, as well as the United States,” said State Sen. René Garcia, RMiami. “She has a strong passion and commitment to quality healthcare and services and is most deserving of this award.”
Named for the late Joe Warner, the annual award recognizes advocates who possess the same compassion for, and commitment to, the nation’s frail, elderly, and disabled that exemplified the work of former president and CEO of Illinois-based Heritage Enterprises, Joe Warner.
Kelley Rice-Schild is one of four recipients of the 2013 Joe Warner Patient Advocacy Award. For more information, visit www.ahca.org or www.ncal.org
