Chase County nursing home gets top grade
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
COTTONWOOD FALLS — Golden LivingCenter, 612 Walnut St., Cottonwood Falls of Chase County is one of only a handful of nursing homes in Kansas to get a five-star overall quality rating by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services unveiled a star rating system that rates each of the country’s nursing homes that participate in Medicare. The stars are based on health inspection surveys, staffing information and quality of care measurements, according to a press release from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The ratings are available online at www.medicare.gov under the link “Nursing Home Compare.”
Ratings are broken down into four areas: the overall rating, health inspection surveys, quality measures and staffing information. Health and safety inspections are based on surveys that are performed each year; quality measures uses 10 out of 19 measures that can be found on the Nursing Home Compare Web site; and staffing information is based on staffing levels.
A five-star ranking means much above average, a four-star ranking means above average, a three star ranking means about average, a two-star ranking means below average and a one star ranking means much below average.
Only the top 10 percent of nursing homes are eligible for the five-star rating. Golden LivingCenter of Chase County provides health care for 42 patients, including patients who need skilled nursing and rehabilitative care. It has operated in Cottonwood Falls since 1969.
“Our LivingCenter is honored to receive the five-Star rating because it validates the quality care and outstanding service we strive to provide our patients,” said Judy Boyce, executive director of Golden LivingCenter of Chase County. “It’s the result of a lot of hard work and dedication on the part of our employees who are committed to working every day to improve our quality of care and patient experience.”
create (anonymous) says...
It would be a good idea for other nursing homes who are struggling with lesser ratings to send a couple of representatives to Chase County's Golden Living Center to learn what it takes to run a successful nursing home facility.
Congratulations to you, Judy Boyce and staff, for making your efforts work, especially for so long. This is incredibly good news.
December 23, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChaseCountyChick (anonymous) says...
I'm curious to how they could get such a great rating, yet be such a horrible facility. It's disgusting and most of their help is worthless. They don't try to make patients feel cared for, nor do they listen to any of the family's suggestions on how to better their facility and quality of care. They can't even manage to serve luke warm food, it's all cold. I think the rating system for this award must be screwed up because there is no way they deserve a 5-star rating. Maybe a negative 5.
January 9, 2009 at 1:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Hmmmm...sounds like a great place to do some investigative reporting.
January 9, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steamer (anonymous) says...
ChaseCountyChick, do you think maybe they got the Golden Living Center confused with the Chase County Dentention Center/Law Enforcement Center when it came to making the award?
January 11, 2009 at 8:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jrcows (anonymous) says...
I agree with ChaseCountyChick. This facility needs help! I would suspect maybe they know when they are being rated or going to be evaluated so they are fully staffed and on their best behavior at those times. How about some undercover or unannounced visits?
February 5, 2009 at 1:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Kujiin (anonymous) says...
ChaseCountyChick : I understand that they are very active with the community. Maybe instead of complain about something in a public forum, you should speak to the staff about your concerns. Apparently you are a member of the community or maybe your just trying to make trouble for them. Maybe your just fed up with Chase County all together.
jrcows : You actually think that they have prior knowledge about visits from the state or who ever? I don't think so.
I have been to this place your speak of in a negative tone many times. I have always witnessed a very caring and loving staff striving to make someone's life a little bit better.
GREAT JOB!! GOLDEN LIVING CENTER!!!
February 5, 2009 at 4:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )