Published: December 20, 2008 09:02 am      

Area nursing homes get mixed ratings; Low marks for Laurel Crest

EBENSBURG — Laurel Crest, Cambria County’s nursing home, is rated as a “below average” facility under a new five-star rating system by a federal agency.

The new system was unveiled this week by the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to give consumers a quick reference of nursing home quality when deciding where to place a loved one.

Laurel Crest and three private facilities in Cambria County have drawn the lowest rating of one star. Laurel Crest is the only government-owned nursing home among the

10 in the county.

The three others receiving one star are Good Samaritan Care Center, 1017 Franklin St., Johnstown; LaurelWood Care Center, 100 Woodmont Road, Johnstown; and Maple Winds Care Center, Portage.

“Obviously we strive to be the best, but these are very subjective,” President Commissioner P.J. Stevens said of the report and its findings.

None of the nursing homes drew the top rating of five stars, which represents “much above average.” Four stars are interpreted as “above average”; three as “average”; and two as “below average.”

Local facilities on the four-star category are Arbutus Park Manor, Richland Township; Memorial Medical Center, Johnstown; and Presbyterian Home of Greater Johnstown.

Golden Living Center-Haida of Hastings and Lutheran Home of Johnstown both were given three stars. Golden Living Center-Richland was given two stars.

The rating system is based on three critical areas, the center said – health inspection results, quality measures and staffing levels.

But people should not depend solely on the CMS rating system in choosing a nursing home for a loved one, the center said on its Web site at www.medicare.gov. Relatives should discuss the issue with the person’s doctor, visit nursing homes and the staff there and check state inspection reports, CMS suggested.

In addition to an overall assessment, CMS also assigns star ratings for health inspections, nursing-home staffing and quality measures.

The only five stars in those categories went to Memorial Medical Center in both the health inspections and staffing, and to Presbyterian Home for staffing.

Laurel Crest drew a one-star rating for health inspections and a three-star rating for quality measures. There was a notation that staff level information was not available.

“In our case, where staffing information was (listed) as incomplete, our staffing has ranked very high,” Stevens said.

“(The information) is always available.”

Some factors in Laurel Crest’s “below average” rating “goes back a period of time,” Stevens said.

“There were a lot of deficiencies last year to overcome.”

A month ago, Laurel Crest paid a $27,560 civil fine imposed by CMS for deficiencies found in state inspections by the Department of Health.

At that time, Administrator Deborah Nesbella said that the fine was based on Laurel Crest’s past history of shortcomings.

“We know we provide excellent care,” Stevens said. “We’re always open to the press and the public. Come in and check us out and see what a great place it is.”