FHCA Highlights Quality Advancements in Florida’s Nursing Centers During House Committee Meeting

Deborah Franklin and Luke Neumann Address House Committee on Florida's Ongoing Quality Improvements and the Positive Impact of Measuring Resident and Staff Satisfaction

Tallahassee, Fla. - Deborah Franklin, Florida Health Care Association Senior Director of Quality Affairs, and Luke Neumann, Senior Vice President of Service, Brand and Communications for Palm Garden Healthcare, participated on a panel during today's House Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee meeting to discuss the quality care improvements in Florida's nursing centers. Committee members also inquired about components of SB 2514 related to resident satisfaction and patient safety culture in nursing centers.

Franklin highlighted Florida's ongoing quality advancements, including the recent U.S. News & World Report ranking noting that Florida's nursing centers are among the nation's best. The report indicated that Florida's top-performing centers stand out for offering more hands-on care, more staffing per day than the national average, and for short-term rehabilitation patients, more physical therapy time than the national average. Franklin also highlighted several statistics from FHCA’s Long Term Care Quality Dashboard, which tracks the current status of nursing center care in the state:

• Ninety percent of Florida nursing centers have earned at least one national accreditation or award for outstanding quality. 
• Nearly 70 percent of centers have a 4- or 5-star Quality Measures rating from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
• Florida is a top 10 state when it comes to long-stay residents increasing their independence. Nursing centers are helping these residents lower their need for help with regular activities of daily living, such as eating and bathing.
• Florida also outperforms the national average on key quality metrics, such as helping high-risk residents avoid falls or contract a UTI. ontract labor for CNAs and LPNs, otherwise known as “agency staffing,” continues to decline. Having more permanent staff in place allows for caregivers to build meaningful, lasting relationships with residents, resulting in more individualized care, higher staff satisfaction, and better overall outcomes.

Neumann shared how Palm Garden centers support individuals who are transitioning from the hospital to rehabilitative care through personalized welcomes, a customer service platform and "In the Moment" surveys throughout residents' stays and during the discharge process.

"When someone has a stroke or a hip replacement and isn't ready to return home, they'll come to one of our centers to heal, and this can often feel overwhelming. We visit patients in the hospital to learn both their clinical needs and their personal life stories," said Neumann. "We’ve found that a genuine, personal welcome sets the tone for a successful rehabilitation experience."

Neumann also highlighted Palm Garden's commitment to fostering its team members, through robust recognition and retention programs and a caregiver survey process throughout onboarding and at regular intervals.

"We hire caregivers who experience satisfaction from relationships. Many of our caregivers who derive emotional currency from their work have been with Palm Garden for over 30 years," Neumann said.

During the 2025 legislative session, Florida Health Care Association supported SB 2514, which included several of the Association's gold standard recommendations to help strengthen nursing centers' ongoing commitment to delivering quality care. FHCA is actively engaged in the Agency for Health Care Administration's (AHCA) rulemaking process as AHCA works to implement portions of SB 2514, including the Certified Medical Director requirement (Rules 59A-4.107 and 59A-4.1075, F.A.C), consumer satisfaction survey process (59A-4.167, F.A.C.) and Patient Safety Culture Survey (Rule 59A-35.115, F.A.C.).

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 2025

PRESS CONTACT:
Kristen Knapp, APR
850-510-4389 or kknapp@fhca.org