The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently came to the Pearl River County Hospital and Nursing Home to conduct an evaluation of the local hospital’s services to provide a rating under it’s system. After a thorough quality evaluation, the CMS gave PRCHNH four out of five stars, a rating that is considered above average.
“This is without a doubt because of the people that interact and care for our patients on a daily basis. They diligently work to care for every patient that walks through those doors and do a tremendous job at it,” Hospital Board member Dr. Scott Alsobrooks said. “Without them, there would be a lot of senior citizens in the community stuck in bad situations.”
The CMS Five-Star Quality Rating System rates nursing homes on a scale of one to five stars, five being extremely above average. The evaluation measures various aspects of a nursing home through an on-site health inspection that determines where a nursing home lies within the five-star system. During the staffing evaluation, CMS rates the staff based on their performance while considering the resident’s level of necessary care, the CMS website states. The quality measure rating is based on 11 physical and clinical measures for nursing home patients, according to the CMS website.
Alsobrooks said PRCHNH is happy about the four-star rating, but not satisfied.
“Our doctors and caretakers provide amazing services for our patients and to receive this honor is a great pleasure. We… will continue to improve and strive for excellence each and every day because we truly believe our patients deserve the best care possible,” Alsobrooks said.
Because of PRCHNH’s longevity in providing service to its community members, Alsobrooks said the hospital has developed a culture of excellent service, which he said differentiates its quality of service from other nursing homes and hospitals.
“Most of us here are from the area, have family in the home, or are friends of family members that are patients here. It’s a family atmosphere when you come to PRCHNH; it runs deep within our culture,” he said.
Alsobrooks said the above average rating reassures PRCHNH employees and patients that things are done right to care for their patients.