Press

With the redesigned Nursing Home Compare website going live today, a new analysis of data ranks California skilled-nursing facilities as best in the nation in three quality measures

California SNFs scored better than every other state in preventing weight loss and depression, and residents in California facilities showed the least amount of decline in their activities of daily living.

In addition, California SNFs were second best in the nation in preventing falls which resulted in serious injury and performed better than the national average in a majority of cases.

“This is a tremendous achievement,” said CAHF CEO/president Jim Gomez.  “Our members have worked tirelessly to make measureable improvements in the quality they deliver to residents – and this report validates their commitment to improving the lives of those in their care.”

The standing of California facilities is especially impressive in the face of the ever-increasing acuity of residents who are discharged from hospitals into skilled nursing and rehabilitation.

See CAHF’s press release. See more information and the full chart of state rankings in the Quality section of the CAHF website.

In all, CMS measured 18 quality indicators for long-stay and short-stay residents over a period of nine months beginning in October 2011.

The redesigned NHC website features new information, including:

• Narratives that detail specific findings from SNF inspections
• Two new measures that report the use of antipsychotic medications
• Updated data for quality measures previously available on the site

In conjunction with the Nursing Home Compare updates launched today, CMS has also released an updated Technical Users’ Guide to the Nursing Home Compare Five-Star Rating System, which includes information about the cut-points for the staffing and QM ratings. Access the manual online. Staff contact: Deborah Pacyna, (916) 441-6400, ext. 226, dpacyna@cahf.org.