The American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA) has honored Newtown resident Mary Noonan, administrator of River Glen Health Care Center in Southbury, as a 2016 recipient of the ACHCA Eli Pick Facility Leadership Award.achca.org. River Glen is a "5-star rated facility" that was recently named in US News and World Report as "one of America's Best Nursing Homes."

This marks the second consecutive year that Ms Noonan will receive the honor.

The award, named in memory of visionary ACHCA member Eli Pick, recognizes 250 administrators nationally whose teams have achieved high levels of organizational quality, according to a release.

Ms Noonan was one of only three such receipts in Connecticut. Eligibility for this award is based on three years of skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey data, including the Health, Fire (Life Safety) and Complaint Surveys, as well as top quartile performance on designated Quality Measures.

"Advancing leadership excellence is at the core of our mission," commented Marianna Grachek, president and chief executive officer of ACHCA. "There is a close relationship between facility leadership and quality outcomes - and, ultimately, between quality care and operational success."

Founded in 1962, the American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA) is the only professional association devoted solely to meeting the professional needs of post-acute and aging services leaders. Focused on advancing leadership excellence, ACHCA provides professional education and certification to administrators from across the spectrum of long term care.

For more information about ACHCA, visit