RHODE ISLAND NURSING HOMES OUTPERFORM FACILITIES NATIONWIDE
Posted: 5/27/2008
RHODE ISLAND NURSING HOMES OUTPERFORM FACILITIES NATIONWIDE
By Richard Gamache
The results are in and they'e all good. Rhode Island nursing homes outperform their counterparts nationwide according to the second annual statewide survey on resident and family satisfaction with nursing home care in Rhode Island. In fact, according to a recent press release from the Rhode Island Department of Health which released the study results, "in comparison to the benchmarks established by My InnerView's national database, Rhode Island facilities scored particularly high."
The survey results demonstrate that Rhode Island nursing homes on average outperformed nursing homes in other states that used the same survey. In Rhode Island, 90 percent of family members and 92 percent of residents rated their satisfaction with their nursing home as either "Good" or "Excellent" and would recommend the facility to their friends and relatives, as compared to 83 percent of family members and 86 percent of residents nationally.
The results reflect what we in the profession already knew. Consumers' anxiety regarding nursing home care decreases with increased knowledge and personal experience. While no one aspires to live in a nursing home when they get older, nursing homes can and should be environments that are warm, nurturing and competent. By and large, nursing home professionals understand the anxiety that accompanies placement and work to not only provide quality medical care but a comfortable transition and ongoing high quality of life as well.
For the most part, quality in nursing home care has been measured primarily by annual surveys overseen by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare. These surveys are based on comprehensive and often confusing regulatory guidelines which can make it difficult for the consumer to get an accurate picture of the quality of care in specific facilities. The results of the My InnerView survey on the other hand, represent the first time Rhode Island facilities have been compared to nursing homes across the country by the end user - the consumer - showing the actual experience of residents and their families. My InnerView compiled the largest database ever assembled about resident and family satisfaction in America's nursing homes, surveying nearly 28,000 nursing home residents and approximately 120,000 family members in over 4000 nursing homes across the country. In Rhode Island, My InnerView surveyed 1,202 residents and 2,075 family members in 92 nursing homes with long-stay residents across the state.
The survey results are posted at ://www.health.ri.gov/chic/performance/nursinghome.php and are one of several piece of information offered on the site that consumers can use to make decisions regarding nursing home care. The results of the My InnerView Surveys are posted using a one, two and three star rating system. It should be noted that most Rhode Island facilities show a two-star rating. This does not mean that the facility is "average", but comparable to their peers in Rhode Island, which scored above average overall. Of course, nothing substitutes for personal visits when deciding upon care for a loved one.
Nursing homes have made remarkable strides in recent years in offering dependable, professional medical care in nurturing settings that promote independence and dignity. The results of the My InnerView surveys speak volumes about what can be achieved when providers, policy makers and families work hand in hand to provide the best care possible.
By Richard Gamache
The results are in and they'e all good. Rhode Island nursing homes outperform their counterparts nationwide according to the second annual statewide survey on resident and family satisfaction with nursing home care in Rhode Island. In fact, according to a recent press release from the Rhode Island Department of Health which released the study results, "in comparison to the benchmarks established by My InnerView's national database, Rhode Island facilities scored particularly high."
The survey results demonstrate that Rhode Island nursing homes on average outperformed nursing homes in other states that used the same survey. In Rhode Island, 90 percent of family members and 92 percent of residents rated their satisfaction with their nursing home as either "Good" or "Excellent" and would recommend the facility to their friends and relatives, as compared to 83 percent of family members and 86 percent of residents nationally.
The results reflect what we in the profession already knew. Consumers' anxiety regarding nursing home care decreases with increased knowledge and personal experience. While no one aspires to live in a nursing home when they get older, nursing homes can and should be environments that are warm, nurturing and competent. By and large, nursing home professionals understand the anxiety that accompanies placement and work to not only provide quality medical care but a comfortable transition and ongoing high quality of life as well.
For the most part, quality in nursing home care has been measured primarily by annual surveys overseen by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare. These surveys are based on comprehensive and often confusing regulatory guidelines which can make it difficult for the consumer to get an accurate picture of the quality of care in specific facilities. The results of the My InnerView survey on the other hand, represent the first time Rhode Island facilities have been compared to nursing homes across the country by the end user - the consumer - showing the actual experience of residents and their families. My InnerView compiled the largest database ever assembled about resident and family satisfaction in America's nursing homes, surveying nearly 28,000 nursing home residents and approximately 120,000 family members in over 4000 nursing homes across the country. In Rhode Island, My InnerView surveyed 1,202 residents and 2,075 family members in 92 nursing homes with long-stay residents across the state.
The survey results are posted at ://www.health.ri.gov/chic/performance/nursinghome.php and are one of several piece of information offered on the site that consumers can use to make decisions regarding nursing home care. The results of the My InnerView Surveys are posted using a one, two and three star rating system. It should be noted that most Rhode Island facilities show a two-star rating. This does not mean that the facility is "average", but comparable to their peers in Rhode Island, which scored above average overall. Of course, nothing substitutes for personal visits when deciding upon care for a loved one.
Nursing homes have made remarkable strides in recent years in offering dependable, professional medical care in nurturing settings that promote independence and dignity. The results of the My InnerView surveys speak volumes about what can be achieved when providers, policy makers and families work hand in hand to provide the best care possible.
