A recent McKnight’s article details the criteria necessary for being designated a five-star nursing home. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) evaluates senior living care providers in three different categories: staffing levels, quality measures, and health inspection. Each of these categories carries a different amount of weight in the five-star ranking system.
In terms of staffing, the author of this article advises to assess their current staffing numbers in order to determine the type of staff that has the highest volume of activity. A nursing home can build flexibility into its budget to accommodate staffing needs as they arise, which ultimately increases hours of clinical care for patients.
Quality measures are comprised of 24 different quality categories, as determined by CMS. Nursing homes should focus on the categories that face the most challenges at the state and federal levels and develop a plan to address their performance specifically in those categories. For example, care plan developers may want to revisit a patient’s usage of antipsychotic drugs to ensure that a diagnosis warrants it. They also should consider whether non-pharmacological interventions could replace the need for medication, which tends to be overused in some circumstances. Similarly, the nursing home in question lowered the incidence of urinary tract infections among patients using a bladder scanning technology.
Finally, with respect to health inspections, the author recommends that senior living care facilities be as transparent as possible with any survey agency. Transparency is beneficial to the community as a whole, as it illustrates honesty and build a level of trust between agency and community.
At Boller & Vaughan, we are all too familiar with the rampant abuse and neglect that often occurs in understaffed, underfunded, overcrowded nursing homes. We have investigated many allegations of abuse and neglect, including those that have resulted in serious injuries to elderly residents, thus giving rise to a claim for damages against the responsible person and facility. Allow us to look into the background of your situation, evaluate the many options that may be available to you, and help you decide what move to make next. Contact the Wisconsin nursing home neglect attorneys of Boller & Vaughan, and see what help we have to offer you.
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We live in Friendship, Wisconsin, and Boller & Vaughan came to our doorstep to discuss our mother’s wrongful death claim on a Saturday morning. Not only were we pleased with the large recovery, we were so thankful to have lawyers who were willing to explain to us every twist and turn along the way. It is great to know there is a law firm that will fight for the rights of elderly people all over Wisconsin.
Mr. Boller and Ms. Vaughan were incredible in working on my case and my daughter’s case. I was out of work and in the hospital with a new baby. Mr. Boller and Ms. Vaughan protected our rights and it was a pleasure to work with them. I hope never to be in another motor vehicle accident, however, if I am and I am injured, I will contact Boller & Vaughan immediately.
I was referred to Michelle through a friend. I have never had a better experience. It took a little over a year to get my settlement but the staff there stayed in constant contact and kept me in the loop. Oh, and Michelle actually got me MORE money than we discussed. I will refer anyone to this firm. Words cannot do justice the thanks that I have for Michelle and her staff (Mary especially) thank you guys so much!
After my husband died as a result of a motor vehicle accident, Boller & Vaughan spent countless hours talking with me, meeting with me in person, and making sure that I was okay. The drunk driver who hit us did not have any insurance, and we had to make a claim through our own insurance. Boller & Vaughan was fantastic at explaining the law to me and the handling of our claims.
After my son was injured in a daycare setting, Ms. Vaughan took the time to thoroughly investigate our case and my son’s injuries. Michele was approachable and had answers to our questions. Talking with her helped to relieve many of our anxieties.
