Five Star Rating

We typically associate five stars with a movie we cant miss, a hotel that is a must stay or a top notch restaurant. The stars serve as an indicator of quality but what does it mean for your health and how can it help you to choose the right extended care facility for yourself or a loved one?  The star rating system has been applied by Medicare to help consumers and care givers rate and compare extended care facilities and is a vital tool when deciding on the right place that can provide the appropriate level of care.

The Five Star rating is based on three specific areas, Health Inspections, Staffing and Quality Measures.  Data from these areas is collected and rated to provide consumers with a “snap shot” of a facility.

Health inspection results are a comprehensive collection of data, based on 180 different items that describe and cover all aspects of care and processes in a nursing home. This data is collected by onsite trained inspectors that visit the facilities annually.  These objective inspectors, survey residents, check the quality of care and inspect medical records on each visit to gather data and then apply it to the five star rating.

Staffing is also considered in the five star rating process and basically takes in to account the ratio of staff to residents and how many of the staff are registered nurses. This area includes the ability of a facility to adjust and customize staff based on level of care needed and actual number of people being cared for.

The last aspect of the Five Star Rating is the Quality Measures. These measures take an in depth look at ten important aspects of care, including how a facility treats skin ulcers, eating habits and how residents are dressed and cared for.

While it is not impossible for a facility to receive a five star rating it is very difficult. It requires a facility to give the highest standard of care in every aspect for an extended period of time. It is a benchmark and is indicative of a facility whose culture lives that standard.  We here at Life Care Center of South Mountain are proud to say that we embody that standard of care and deliver with the same smile and consistency day after day, because we care. So when is Five Stars used for good health, when your choice is Life Care Center of South Mountain for your skilled and nursing home needs?  Bring us your loved ones and we will deliver nothing but Five Stars.