A new tougher grading system for nursing homes in Maryland
will be starting immediately as the federal government is making it harder for
the homes to get “top grades on a public report card.” There will now be increased scrutiny of the
use of anti-psychotic drugs and the bar will be raised on an array of quality
measures. The new grading system will
rank nursing homes using one- to five-star ratings that will be available on
the government website, Nursing Home Compare, starting February 20. The old ratings system “relied too heavily on
self-reported data and allow[ed] a majority of homes to score high
ratings.”
The Nursing Home Compare website
rates more than 15,000 nursing homes using three categories: government
inspections, quality measures, and staffing levels. Using those categories, an overall score is
compiled. Of the 15,000 nursing homes
listed, 228 of them are located in Maryland, and 135 have four-star ratings
(“above average”) or five-star ratings (“much above average”). In fact, close to 35% of all Maryland nursing
homes have a five-star rating, which accounts for 81 of 228 homes. Unfortunately, there are 12 Maryland nursing
homes that have a one-star rating.
Some nursing home officials are
criticizing this new system because some highly rated nursing homes are facing
fines and other enforcement actions. The
federal government simply wants to hold nursing homes to a higher standard by
making it more difficult to get four- and five-star ratings. One of the biggest factors making up high
scores are the amount of injuries residents develop while living in the nursing
home. This new system will also now keep
track of the number of residents given unnecessary anti-psychotic drugs to make
it easier for nurses and staff to manage them.
As a result of these changes, many nursing homes’ ratings could drop a
star or more.
While implementing a new rating
system might confuse consumers looking at nursing homes, many officials in the
industry believe this was a necessary change because more information is always
better. In the old system, very little
information was collected and high ratings were too easy to achieve.
Nursing
homes are supposed to be places where people who need care but don't need to be
in a hospital can live out their golden years with dignity. Unfortunately, when
nursing homes and their staff members are negligent or abusive, the results can
be tragic. Our Maryland nursing home
negligence lawyers pursue justice for families who have had a loved one injured
due to:
•
Withholding food and water
•
Medication errors
•
Poor toilet and bathing facilities
•
Inadequate grooming
•
Physical abuse
•
Emotional abuse
•
Sexual abuse
If your loved one has been injured
due to nursing home abuse or neglect, the experienced personal injury lawyers
at Portner & Shure can help you protect his or her rights. Call us today for a free case evaluation at
(301) 854-9000 or visit us online at: http://www.portnerandshure.com/Medical-Malpractice/
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