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News & Publications: Press Releases

Top Ranked Skilled Nursing Facilities on the Rise in Florida

205 Florida Skilled Nursing Facilities Named America’s “Best Nursing Homes” by U.S. News & World Report


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 27, 2014                                  
Contact: Kristen Knapp, APR                                  
(850) 701-3530 or kknapp@fhca.org

Tallahassee, Fla. - U.S. News & World Report has named 205 Florida skilled nursing facilities to its “Best in Nursing Homes” list in 2014.  That amounts to nearly 30 percent of Florida facilities with a rating of five stars from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency that sets and enforces standards for nursing facilities from which U.S. News drew its data. The annual announcement reflects a 10 percent increase in “Best Nursing Homes” in Florida since 2013. Florida ranks 2nd in the number of five-star nursing homes, just below California.

“Florida is fortunate to have these facilities which have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to their residents,” said Emmett Reed, Executive Director of Florida Health Care Association. “Behind the increasing number of ‘Best Nursing Homes’ are improvements in clinical care and nurses spending more time with residents, all of which means a better quality of life for Florida’s seniors and individuals with disabilities.”

“Best in Nursing Homes” provides data and information from CMS related to care, safety, health inspections and more for nearly every nursing facility in the U.S. The ratings, which cover 16,000 nursing homes, show the share of nursing facilities nationwide with the top five-star rating has reached 25 percent, up sharply from about 19 percent last year.

Visit http://health.usnews.com/best-nursing-homes to access the list of Florida facilities named “Best in Nursing Homes” in 2014 and for more information about how the rankings are determined.

While the “Best Nursing Homes” of 2014 celebrates those nursing facilities which have earned a five-star ranking by the federal government, FHCA reminds consumers that rankings are not a precise indicator of whether a facility is right for an individual needing care.

“Our loved ones’ care is too important to leave to an internet search,” continued Reed. “Nursing facilities across Florida are providing excellent care, and you can see it when you walk through the doors. Visiting a nursing facility is really the best way to decide the appropriate fit for each individual requiring long term care.”

Key Facts about Florida Quality Improvements
• Over 60 percent of Florida’s skilled nursing facilities have an overall four- or five-star rating
• Florida has one of the highest staffing ratios (certified nursing assistant to resident/patient ratio) in the country. Over 60 percent of Florida’s facilities boast a four- or five-star rating in staffing - the nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants, therapists and others delivering quality care to residents.
• Customer satisfaction remains high among residents and their families (85 percent).
• In 2013, Florida’s skilled nursing facilities achieved the highest number of National Quality Awards than any other state (award criteria is based on the Malcolm Baldrige criteria for performance excellence).
• Facilities are enrolled in the National Quality Initiative, a member-wide challenge to meet specific, measurable targets in hospital readmissions, staff stability, customer satisfaction and the off-label use of antipsychotics.
• Over 75 percent of FHCA member nursing facilities are enrolled in the Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes Campaign.

ABOUT FLORIDA HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION
Celebrating its 60th Anniversary in 2014, Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) is a federation which serves nearly 1,000 members and represents over 500 long term care facilities that provide skilled nursing, post-acute and sub-acute care, short-term rehab, assisted living and other services to the frail elderly and individuals with disabilities in Florida. The mission of FHCA is to advance the quality of services, image, professional development and financial stability of its members. As Florida's first and largest advocacy organization for long term care providers and the elderly they serve, the Association has worked diligently since 1954 to assist its members with continuously improving quality of care and quality of life for the state’s growing elder care population. For more information about Florida Health Care Association, visit http://www.fhca.org.

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