The Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes campaign-a nationwide, voluntary quality improvement initiative-celebrated its second birthday this week.

More than 7,100 nursing homes in the U.S. have signed on with the initiative, comprising roughly 45% of the nation’s total number of nursing homes. Also, 28 national organizations and 49 smaller local organizations have a hand in the unprecedented initiative, which originally was supposed to last just two years. Success, however, has granted it extra life, officials say.

“In two years, the Advancing Excellence campaign has seen progress in reducing pressure ulcers, reducing the use of physical restraints, and controlling or relieving pain for long-term and short-stay residents,” said Mary Jane Koren, M.D., M.P.H., chair of the Advancing Excellence campaign.

For more information about the Advancing Excellence campaign, visit http://www.nhqualitycampaign.org.