Providence, RI, Nov. 02, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rhode Island nursing homes continue to set the bar for their commitment to exceptional care experiences, thanks to feedback and insights gained through annual customer satisfaction surveys. The surveys are facilitated under the direction of the Rhode Island Department of Health and fielded by NRC Health, the largest source of long-term care and senior-living satisfaction metrics in the nation.
Commencing the week of October 30, 2017, the state’s nursing homes will field their 16th annual customer satisfaction survey. Long-stay residents in Rhode Island’s long-term care facilities, and their selected representatives (e.g., family member, friend or other caregiver), will be asked to complete the survey. The annual survey – originally implemented in 2002 – provides residents and their representatives with opportunities to provide insight about their care, which in turn, allows nursing home providers to deliver better care experiences.
As demonstrated by the 2016 satisfaction survey results, Rhode Island facilities are outperforming the rest of the nation year after year:
- 90 percent of Rhode Island residents would recommend their care facility to others, compared to the 88 percent national average.
- 93 percent of representatives of Rhode Island residents would recommend their loved one’s care facility to others, compared to the 89 percent national average.
“I applaud Rhode Island’s nursing homes for the strong results from the 2016 field survey, and I look forward to how we can improve based on what we learn this year,” said Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH). “As Rhode Island’s population ages, it is critical that our health system is able to provide the high-quality health services and care needed to meet the unique needs of our older adults.”
Nursing home providers use insight from survey results to identify unique opportunities to improve care and enhance experiences for residents and resident representatives. The Department of Health also publishes the results on its website for the benefit of Rhode Islanders who may be researching nursing homes for themselves or a family member.
"Being able to maintain such a high level of performance year after year is a true testament to the quality of care being provided in Rhode Island nursing homes," said Rich Kortum, Director of Strategic Partnerships at NRC Health. "We applaud their success and look forward to continuing to help them seek out these valuable insights.”
The Department of Health’s Healthcare Quality Reporting Program—in collaboration with a multi-stakeholder group that includes the nursing home trade associations, LeadingAge Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Health Care Association, and the Rhode Island Ombudsman for Long Term Care —publishes information on nursing home quality and satisfaction annually. The program is designed to help inform consumer decision-making and to encourage facilities to continually improve their performance. Learn more about the quality of care that nursing homes and other healthcare facilities provide by visiting www.health.ri.gov/programs/healthcarequalityreporting/.
About Rhode Island Department of Health
The primary mission of the Rhode Island Department of Health is to prevent disease and to protect and promote the health and safety of the people of Rhode Island. The Department of Health is a diverse and interactive state agency with broad-ranging public health responsibilities. To learn more, visit www.health.ri.gov/
About NRC Health
NRC Health (NASDAQ: NRCIA and NRCIB) has helped healthcare organizations illuminate and improve the moments that matter to patients, residents, physicians, nurses, and staff for 35 years. Our empathetic heritage, proprietary methods, and holistic approach enable our partners to better understand the people they care for and, in turn, design experiences that inspire loyalty and trust.
NRC Health post-acute customer experience solutions help improve quality in all long-term care and short-term stay settings, including skilled nursing homes, assisted living communities, independent living communities, and continuing-care retirement communities.
For more information, call 1-800-388-4264, write to info@nrchealth.com, or visit www.nrchealth.com.
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