To The Management and Support Staff at Covenant Care:

I would like to take this opportunity to express to each of you my gratitude for the support that I have received while the Executive Director at Emerald Gardens. As you know I have been a skilled nursing facility administrator for 25 years and I can truly say that Emerald Gardens is among the best facilities with which I have been associated. I am proud to have been a part of this "family" of caring, hard working and loyal staff.

More than any other organization with which I have been associated, this company's and this facility's success is a direct reflection of the company's leadership. I have told a number of people when they ask me why I have been so impressed with CCI, that what sets CCI apart is "they get it". This is a people business, not a numbers business. Covenant Care finds, hires, retains, manages and nurtures great people (at all levels). The message is strong and consistent. I have been impressed with the confidence that this company has in this operating philosophy. The results are clear.

CCI understands the importance of "telling our story". SNFs provide a service that no one wants to have to buy. If we truly believe that we provide the best care available (and we do) and we understand that the clients need our services, then we do a disservice to our community if we do not active and aggressively promote our facilities and programs.

I would like to acknowledge Jan Harrington and Dava Ashley. They have challenged me and supported me in equal measure. Along with Tambria Turco, Mary Evans and Bob Levin they have shown intelligence, understanding, sophistication and a willingness to set, and insist upon achieving, high standards for both clinical quality and financial success.

I would also like to acknowledge many of the "hands on" support staff from IT, Payroll, AP, AR, Legal, etc. There are so many talented individuals and their contributions are so great. I thank you all. I would like to single out one of the most frequent visitors, however. Toni Perkins has been tirelessly dedicated to this facility's improvement. We could not have come this far without her. The distance the facility still has to travel will be much easier to bear with her continued support.

I truly believe that Emerald Gardens is Sacramento's best kept secret. I have asked staff to make sure that it doesn't stay a secret. The skills they possess and the genuine compassion, empathy and concern they show to residents, (some of the areas most difficult clients), is inspiring. They will continue to "tell the story".

We cannot control what goes on outside these four walls. The press will print what it wants to print. The politicians will make whatever regulations they choose. There will be storms we need to weather. We do, however, have control over what happens within these four walls. Laarni, Candace, Vennay, Abner and Richard Thorpe will continue to take this fact very personally. Under their leadership Emerald Gardens will continue to provide the best and most compassionate care in the area. They will bring quality of life to the most fragile and vulnerable members of our community.

Thank you again for your help and support. The decision to leave has been a difficult one. "Good byes are not easy". Please don't take offense if I do not say a personal good bye. Be assured I will miss you all. We very well may cross path again.

With respect and admiration,

Thomas P. Coffey
Emerald Gardens
August 07, 2006