While I imagine that there are a host of reasons behind the implementation of Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare— and star-rating system, I propose that a paramount reason was to ‘encourage’ poorly performing nursing homes to change the way that they operate. It would make sense that the impact of market conditions would force troubled nursing homes to clean up their act or risk an inevitable decline in the number patients filling beds at their facility…..theoretically.
Despite Medicare’s clearly identified label for the most poorly performing nursing homes– one-star facilities– as being ‘much below average’ compared to other facilities within the state, the dubious distinction doesn’t seem to be like much of an impetuous for facilities to improve.
A recently USA Today article, “As nursing home care improves, some problems slow to mend” followed nursing home rating for facilities over the lifetime of Nursing Home Compare system. While the authors did note that the percentage of poorly rated facilities has decreased since the programs inception, a distressingly large number of facilities have elected to follow their own inferior course.
564 nursing homes providing care for upwards of 73,000 patients have consistently received the one-star rating during every inspection cycle of the program. Not surprisingly, many of the facilities in this category share some similarities in that the majority (66%) of them are ‘for-profit’ facilities. Similarly, a sizable contingent of poorly rated facilities are parts of large nursing home chains, such as ManorCare or Golden Living.
Why all of these poorly performing nursing homes?
Some experts associate the consistently poor rating with a high rate of staff turnover. In this light, a pilot program has been initiated by a health policy foundation, The Commonwealth Fund, to help provide more consistency in the care that is provided to patients.
From my perspective— even with the widely distributed rating system, many of these consistently poorly rated nursing homes continue to exist– simply because the operators refuse to invest the necessary work needed to improve the care they provide to their patients. As we consistently see with nursing home operators, as long as these facilities continue to remain profitable, the likelihood of improvement is dim.
Related:
More Detailed Nursing Home Information Now Available Online
How Do I Begin The Search For Care Options?
More Improvements At Medicare’s ‘Nursing Home Compare’ Website
Facilities in Illinois that have been consistently received one-star rating from 2009-2011:
Alton Rehab & Nursing Center Alton IL For profit – Corporation
Aurora Rehab & Living Center Aurora IL For profit – Corporation
Belleville Healthcare & Rehab Belleville IL For profit – Corporation
Asta Care Center of Bloomingtn Bloomington IL For profit – Corporation
Bridgeview Health Care Center Bridgeview IL For profit – Corporation
Helia Healthcare of Carbondale Carbondale IL For profit – Corporation
Caseyville Nursing & Rehab Ctr Caseyville IL For profit – Corporation
Charleston Rehab & Health Care Center Charleston IL For profit – Corporation
Three Springs Lodge Nursing Home, LLC Chester IL For profit – Corporation
Bronzeville Park Nsg & Lvg Ctr Chicago IL For profit – Limited liability company
Belhaven Nursing & Rehab Center Chicago IL For profit – Corporation
Lakeview Rehab & Nursing Center Chicago IL For profit – Corporation
Renaissance Park South Chicago IL For profit – Corporation
Villa At Windsor Park Chicago IL For profit – Partnership
Renaissance At 87th Street,The Chicago IL For profit – Corporation
Alden Town Manor Rehab & Hcc Cicero IL For profit – Corporation
Crestwood Care Centre Crestwood IL For profit – Partnership
Danville Care Center Danville IL For profit – Corporation
Vermilion Manor Nursing Home Danville IL Government – County
Mckinley Court Decatur IL For profit – Partnership
Lincoln Rehabilitation Center Decatur IL For profit – Corporation
Forest Hill Health and Rehab East Moline IL For profit – Individual
Glenwood Healthcare & Rehab. Glenwood IL For profit – Partnership
Stearns Nursing & Rehab Center Granite City IL For profit – Partnership
Granite Nursing & Rehabilitation Granite City IL For profit – Partnership
North Church Nursing & Rehab Jacksonville IL For profit – Corporation
Alden Long Grove Rehab &Hc Ctr Long Grove IL For profit – Corporation
Marion Rehab & Nursing Center Marion IL For profit – Corporation
Manor Court of Maryville Maryville IL Non profit – Corporation
Morton Villa Care Center Morton IL For profit – Corporation
Morton Terrace Care Center Morton IL For profit – Corporation
Friendship Manor Health Care Nashville IL For profit – Partnership
Newman Rehabilitation & Hcc Newman IL For profit – Corporation
Niles Nsg & Rehab Ctr Niles IL For profit – Corporation
Oak Lawn Respiratory & Rehab Oak Lawn IL For profit – Partnership
Oak Park Healthcare Center Oak Park IL For profit – Corporation
Richland Care & Rehab Olney IL For profit – Corporation
Asta Care Center – Ford County Paxton IL For profit – Corporation
Saint Clare Home Peoria Heights IL Non profit – Church related
Pinckneyville Health Care Ctr Pinckneyville IL For profit – Corporation
Alden Alma Nelson Manor Rockford IL For profit – Corporation
Alden Park Strathmoor Rockford IL For profit – Corporation
Asta Care Center of Rockford Rockford IL For profit – Corporation
Amberwood Care Center Rockford IL For profit – Corporation
Champaign Urbana Reg Rehab Center Savoy IL For profit – Corporation
Shelbyville Rehab & Hcc Shelbyville IL For profit – Individual
Windmill Nursing Pavilion South Holland IL For profit – Corporation
Sterling Pavilion Sterling IL For profit – Corporation
Mcallister Nursing & Rehab Tinley Park IL For profit – Corporation
Wheaton Care Center Wheaton IL For profit – Partnership
Woodstock Residence Woodstock IL For profit – Partnership