Annual tests on care centers are what makes quality nursing homes.
By: Matt Kirdahy
Administrators of area nursing care facilities say annual tests on their establishments conducted by the state are part of what makes them so good.
The Department of Health and Senior Services tests long-term care nursing facilities in the county each year on categories such as resident and patient care in a quality living environment. While test results have not been released yet, some administrators are confident that they have done well.
According to Liana Reynolds, facility’s director of continuous quality care at the Elms of Cranbury, the Elms received the highest possible score in Middlesex County on an annual report card compiled by the state Department of Health and Senior Services.
Administrators attribute their success to a family-oriented and solid working environment and hard work.
"The driving forces behind these high scores are the intangibles in a facility like this," said Ms. Reynolds. "It’s about the happiness and the satisfaction of the residents and their families."
Based on a test that was conducted by the DHSS at the end of June, Ms. Liana said the Elms exhibited a flawless operation. The results will be available on the DHSS Web site www.state.nj.us/health/ltc/hcfa/index.html within the next several months, according to Donna Leusner, press secretary for DHSS.
Ms. Leusner said an inspector comes back and writes a report based on the test results. That report is reviewed by DHSS and the facility administration before it is official.
The same applies to other area nursing homes such as Cranbury Center, which was tested in April; Applegarth Care Center tested in May; and the Monroe Village Health Care Center, also tested in April.
However, The Applegarth Care Center in Jamesburg, according to its Assistant Administrator Sandra Lowden, did very well, with only made a couple of faults in its operation in bookkeeping, not in resident/patient care.
"Our deficiencies were low in scope and severity," Ms. Lowden said. "We are able to deal with the individuals and make sure that we meet their wants and needs."
According to the DHSS, about 400 full, on-site license and Medicare/Medicaid certification inspections are conducted unannounced, over several days, in nursing facilities annually. The inspection surveys evaluate the quality of care and services provided, the fitness and adequacy of the nursing facilities, equipment, staff, policies, procedures and finances.
"They show up at random, but don’t bother us unless they need something," Ms. Lowden said. "They come unannounced on the first day and are really good about telling you when they’ll be arriving the following days. I have to admit though, it is a little nerve-racking."
Reports are issued to each nursing home and facilities that fail to meet specific standards must submit a plan of correction to the department, which includes information on how and when the problem was corrected as well as how it will be prevented in the future. The department then follows up to verify that deficiencies are corrected.
Previously, The Elms’ scores were: administration, 29; nursing, 25; patients’ rights, 22; food, 8; environment, 14.
The maximum scores possible in each category are: administration and management of the facility, 30; nursing care, 26; patients’ rights, 22; food service and kitchen facilities, 8; and the facility’s environment, 14.
The current state averages were administration, 28; nursing, 20.93; patients’ rights, 20.31; food, 7.34; environment, 12.79.
Prior to being updated from a May test, the Applegarth Care Center, according to the Web site, scored: administration, 26; nursing, 18; patients’ rights, 18; food, 7; environment, 11.
Other Middlesex facilities like the Monroe Village Health Care Center on David Brainerd Drive in Monroe scored administration, 27; nursing, 22; patients’ rights, 20.5; food, 8; environment, 14.
The Cranbury Care Center on Applegarth Road in Monroe scored as follows prior to the test according to the Web site: administration, 27; nursing, 20.5; patients’ rights, 19; food, 7; environment, 14.