Virginia Convalescent Center receives four-star rating
A report card for nursing homes

Report cards are important to students (and parents of students).  They not only quantify individual performance, but they also shed light on progress - or the lack thereof.

Now, the nearly 400 Medicaid and Medicare-certified nursing homes in the state of Minnesota are also being regularly graded.  In 2005 Governor Tim Pawlenty, along with the Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Department of Human Services, launched an innovative program to help consumers assess the quality of care available in Minnesota's nursing homes.

"Minnesota's Nursing Home Report Card is the first of its kind in the country," said Keith Harvey, CEO of Virginia Regional Medical Center (VRMC), which operates the Virginia Convalescent Center (VCC).  "It provides consumers with information on quality of life and resident satisfaction in addition to objective data such as staff/resident ratios, staff turnover, proportion of single rooms and state inspection results."

Like other nursing homes around the state, VCC was assessed for the first Nursing Home Report Card in 2005.  Its residents were surveyed, and regular state inspections were also conducted.

In early 2006, the facility, which currently provides skilled nursing care to 116 residents, was informed that is received a four-star rating on a scale of one to five.

"There are a total of either quality measures, and we did very well on almost all of them," said Jeff Brown, VCC administrator.  "Our top scores were for staff turnover, state inspection results and the Minnesota Quality Indicators, which address criteria such as the use of medications, physical functioning, the prevalence of pain, physical restraints, weight loss, the prevalence of behavioral symptoms and others."

Pawlenty's changes also affected the way nursing homes are reimbursed by the Department of Human Services.  Now, all nursing homes will receive a standard reimbursement rate, but five of the eight quality measures will determine whether or not they receive an increase for performance.  This step was implemented to provide incentive to nursing homes as well as a means for further quality improvement.

"It's a smart program, and we're happy to have performed so well in its first year," said Brown.  "We'll continue to look for ways to improve, but this goes to show that VCC staff members do a tremendous job on a day-to-day basis."

Previously located in a building next to VRMC, VCC is now located on the third and fourth floors of the hospital.  Often working in tandem with hospital staff, VCC staff members provide services such as intravenous therapy, intensive wound care, physical and occupational rehabilitation, clinical monitoring and a full range of recreational and social services.

"With all these services, we focus on outcomes," said Brown.  "Last year, 50 percent of our residents either returned home or moved to a facility with a lesser level of care.  To me, that speaks volumes."

In the near future, VCC staff will also begin providing hospice care.

"With baby boomers retiring, there's an ongoing need for nursing homes to expand both their range and quality of care," said Keith Harvey.  "We're happy that a tool like the Nursing Home Report Card exists.  It helps consumers get a picture of the optionas available."

For more information about the Nursing Home Report Card or to compare nursing homes in the state, please visit:  www.health.state.mn.us/nhreportcard.