WINNEMUCCA - Humboldt General Hospital's nursing home is a five-star facility, according to Medicare data released last month.
Harmony Manor achieved five stars in each of four categories following an inspection that took place November 1, 2012.
The vigorous survey by officials from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) gave 5 stars overall to the nursing home as well as separate five-star ratings for Harmony Manor's ongoing surveys or health inspections; staffing ratios for registered nurses; and the results of nine different physical and clinical measures that offer information about how well the home is caring for residents' physical, psychosocial and clinical needs.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services created the quarterly Five-Star Quality Rating System to help consumers, their families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily.
According to Nurse Manager Robin Gillis, Harmony Manor has been rated a 5-star facility overall for most of the years the system has been in place.
"However, this past quarter, we achieved five stars in each of the four categories, a first for us," she said.
Gillis continued, "Our goal is to be a five-star facility. That has always been our goal because those five stars indicate that we are providing the best quality of life that we can for our residents."
She added, "We strive to be survey ready on any given day. We always want to be caring for our residents at that level."
Medicare first released the star ratings of the nation's nursing homes in late 2008. According to the 2012 data, eight of Nevada's 51 nursing homes received an overall one-star rating, which still meets Medicare's baseline conditions.
"So that gives some insight into how 'above and beyond' our facility is," said Humboldt General Hospital CEO/Administrator Jim Parrish. "There's a reason why it's a five-star facility: the whole staff there works really hard to take care of our residents."
Parrish said the entire Harmony Manor operation, from nurses to nurses' aides, housekeeping and dietary staff and the activities staff, is focused on making residents' stays as pleasant and rewarding as possible.
He continued, "This isn't about simply providing housing and medical care for people; it's about providing a quality of life that engages people and helps them to continue to grow and enjoy life while maintaining their dignity and their privacy."
He added, "I think the community ought to be very proud of the quality of care provided by Harmony Manor."
Gillis, who has supervised the facility for over six years, said she is deeply appreciative for what's happening at Harmony Manor-success that she wholeheartedly attributes to her staff.
"I am most proud of the staff that we have. It just takes a certain individual to work with geriatrics," she said. "My staff is here because they want to be; they truly care about the residents. I can see it in every one of them."
Gillis also praised HGH administrators for keeping staffing levels at the facility high. "That was one area where we needed to improve, and they saw that need and met it."
To find nursing home ratings, go to the website www.medicare.gov and click on "Find Nursing Homes." Then click on "Find Nursing Homes in Your Area."
For more information on Harmony Manor, Humboldt General Hospital's skilled nursing facility, please call Humboldt General Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility RN Nurse Manager Robin Gillis at (775) 623-5222, ext. 166.
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