Nursing Home Rating System

Here is a link to the government ratings of individual nursing homes: HHS.gov (http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/Include/DataSection/Questions/ProximitySearch.asp)   They rate each of more than 10,000 nursing homes on a scale of one-star to five-stars, based on inspections and various measurements.

Much Above Avg.
Above Avg.
Average
Below Avg.
Much Below

If you click the nursing home name, and then select the categories, there are some comments. Here is an example, for a place with a "One Star" rating:

"Inspectors determined that the nursing home failed to:

• Keep each resident's personal and medical records private and confidential.
• Provide services to meet the needs and preferences of each resident.
• Quickly give a resident's personal money to the heads of his or her estate after the resident's death.
• Tell each resident who can get Medicaid benefits about 1) which items and services Medicaid covers and which the resident must pay for; or 2) how to apply for Medicaid, along with the names and addresses of State groups that can help.
• Store, cook, and give out food in a safe and clean way."

Some critics of the ratings wonder if nursing homes will now focus on the factors that will raise ratings, rather than improve overall quality of care. Still, one would think that publicizing and ranking the results of inspections, percentage of patients with sores, etc. is a good thing.