Apart from getting nursing home insurance, nursing care facilities will benefit considerably from improving their quality measures. Doing so raises the level of care provided, which could help boost the facility’s reputation among prospective guests.
Providing high-quality care often offers long-term benefits for a nursing facility, particularly with regard to publicity. Patients that have a favorable experience are more likely to share the positive aspects of their stay with friends and family, and even acquaintances or strangers. This, in turn, could lead to higher admission rates, as more people are drawn to the level of care and professionalism that the facility provides.
Of course, good publicity isn’t the only motivation for improving quality measures at a skilled nursing facility. A study conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) revealed that patients of highly-rated skilled nursing facilities have overall lower mortality rates, shorter stays at the facility, and lower chances of readmission to nursing homes after being discharged.
There are many ways to improve quality measures at skilled nursing facilities, and the methods can vary considerably depending on the facilities in question. Among the measures commonly implemented for enhancing the quality of service, the majority typically apply to patients who stay at the facility for a hundred days or longer. The rest usually applies to short-term residents.
Here are some ways to improve quality measures in a nursing care facility:
1. Improve engagement with residents. Engaging with residents is an effective way to encourage reporting of quality status. When facility administrators frequently engage with nursing home guests, it helps establish a relationship based on trust and mutual respect. This makes guests feel valued, making them more likely to contribute to the betterment of the facility’s services. This, in turn, could only lead to the improvement of quality measures.
2. Get the entire staff involved in reporting quality improvement. Another strategy that has proven effective for many nursing care facilities is getting the whole workforce involved in reporting quality measure issues, implementation, and progress. Just like guests of the facility, employees want to feel valued as contributors to the betterment of the facility.
Complete staff involvement means not only doctors and nurses but even office and maintenance staff. Everyone that interacts with patients in some way, whether directly or indirectly, should be included in the effort to improve quality measures.
3. Adopt a holistic approach to patient care. It is generally beneficial to take a holistic view on specific aspects of nursing care such as nutrition, mobility, and independence. This makes it easier to provide the appropriate type of care to the patient and ensures overall higher quality of service.
4. Educating the staff on the benefits of improving quality measures. The nursing home staff plays an integral role in uplifting the standard of quality measures to current industry levels. Therefore, it is advisable to educate them on specific methods and programs that will help improve the nursing care and services provided to the patients.
It would also be beneficial to provide positive feedback and encouragement when warranted. Doing so could go a long way in inspiring nursing home staff to maintain a consistently high level of professionalism and service.
5. Acquire the necessary resources. Finally, nursing home administrators should ensure the availability of everything required for personnel to maintain quality standards. This typically includes supplies and equipment. But it is just as important to ensure that these are well-maintained and up to industry standard and that there are no obstacles hindering access to resources for those that need them.
Even by implementing all these strategies and raising the standard of quality measures in a nursing facility, there is always a risk of unfortunate incidents, no matter how small. Any of these could lead to accidents that result in injury or the loss of life. Patients and staff are equally at risk, and worse still, many incidents can occur without warning.
Malpractice accusations are common threats, and the resulting lawsuits can put quite a strain on the nursing facility’s budget as well as its reputation. Having the right type of insurance against these risks could be helpful in avoiding financial ruin and the possible closure of the business.
Nowadays, there are many options available in nursing home-focused insurance programs. These programs typically cover workers’ compensation and medical malpractice among other risks that nursing care administrators and personnel commonly face.
About Caitlin Morgan
Caitlin Morgan specializes in insuring assisted living facilities and nursing homes and can assist you in providing insurance and risk management services for this niche market. Give us a call to learn more about our programs at (877) 226-1027.