This Is the Nursing Home Our Legislators Wanted to Sell.

Genesee Nursing Home earns top ranking in U.S. report
Posted: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 12:00 am
Updated: 12:02 am, Tue Feb 22, 2011.

Genesee Nursing Home earns top ranking in U.S. report By Paul Mrozek pmrozek@batavianews.com The Daily News Online

Genesee County Nursing Home received the highest possible rating from a federal office’s review of all skilled nursing facilities in the United States.

Wyoming County Community Hospital’s nursing home received the lowest score, Orleans County an average one, according to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Results are available on the Internet website www.medicare.gov.

The criteria used to determine ratings was based on performance in health inspections, nurse staffing, and quality of medical care. All of the skilled nursing facilities in New York were evaluated in 2010.

Genesee County Nursing Home recorded a five-star rating with two health care deficiencies noted during the assessment period. Charles Rice, the facility’s administrator, briefly discussed the results with county lawmakers at the Feb. 16 Ways & Means Committee meeting.

The results are slated for publication in the magazine, “U.S. News & World Report.”

Health deficiencies are rated from 0 to 29; the higher the score the more problems there are that need to be addressed. The average for nursing homes in New York State is five deficiencies.

Genesee County was cited for not writing or implementing policies that forbid mistreatment, neglect or abuse of patients, or theft of their property. Its second deficiency was for failure to properly mark drugs in its pharmacy.

New York has 316 skilled nursing facilities. The 160-bed Genesee County Nursing Home, 278 Bank St., Batavia was one of 32 statewide that earned a top score.

“I was just so pleased,” County Legislature Chairman Mary Pat Hancock said Monday.

Hancock said although the Legislature has struggled with multi-million-dollar operating losses at the facility, the Legislature was always aware of the high quality of its care.

“We always appreciate it. I’ve been impressed with it,” Hancock said.

Rice, the facility’s administrator, could not be reached to comment Monday because of the federal holiday.

Fifteen of the state’s five-star nursing homes are in Western New York.