Blog Post: Nursing Home Five Star Rating System

The updated Nursing Home Compare site uses a five-star rating system, similar to that used for hotels and motels, to rank institutions nationwide.

Nursing home ratings are taken from the following three sources of data: 

*Health Inspections

*Staffing

*Quality Measures

Like all information, there are pros and cons. I’m all for pros. What about cons?

Cons....... 

Health Inspections

*Differences between states

*Differences in state licensing requirements

Staffing limits

*Self reported

*Once a year, reporting is based upon a two week period of time

Quality Measures

*Self reported

*Reports only a few aspects of care

*Not adjusted for special characteristic needs of residents

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has a Web site for Home Health Compare. It is intended to make it easier for you to find a home health agency. Home Health Compare is based upon questions asked in the Oasis which is prepared when a patient is admitted, transferred, discharged, etc. The Oasis can be up to seventeen pages long. CMS rates the agency on only twelve quality measures. The Oasis is self reported.

You’ve heard the term “garbage in, garbage out”. Self reporting can be just that. I have concerns that now with the Five-Star Rating System and the already established Home Health Compare, self reporting has moved toward advertising with a little data.

Nothing can replace the unannounced visit to the nursing home you are considering for your loved one. Nothing can replace being present when the home health nurse arrives for your loved one's home visit. First impressions do count.

In closing I want to share that my agency, All Nursing Home Health Services, Inc. adheres to all CMS regulations. We have dedicated, patient serving nurses that perform the most accurate assessments possible. Our mission is to deliver the best home health service, help the patients reach their goals and discharge the patients back to society where they can continue living out their lives. That’s rewarding. And that’s what we do best!

Happy Holidays ~