In America, there is a Five-Star Quality Rating System used to gage the quality of nursing homes across the nation. This rating standard was established by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. However, in recent years, it has become clear that the system is lacking. Recently, the University of California conducted a study and found that staffing instability, as well as other staffing factors, had a massive impact on nursing home quality.
What is Staff Instability?
Put very simply, staffing instability is the fluctuation, hour to hour, of the number of staff members on duty. Typically, the metric used to determine if staffing is sufficient is just the number of employees on payroll. This does not take into consideration that there are typically times during the day that there are more employees on duty, and times that there are very few.
Instability also refers to the change on a day-to-day basis. For example, there are typically shifts (like those on holidays) where very few people want to work and therefore there is a shortage of help. Additionally, there are times of turnover and the transition from fully staffed to finding replacements for those who have left.
This instability causes inconsistent treatment and care, and can increase stress for those on duty when there are fewer hands to help.
The Impact of Instability
The University of California researchers looked at 13,600 nursing homes in 2023. Using a 5-to-50 point basis, they found that “21 percent of nursing homes experienced a change in their quality star rating.” Using a 10-to-100 point basis, they found that 21% jumped to 40%.
The researchers have posited that if a measurement of staff instability was added to the CMS rating system, residents and families would be able to make a more informed decision. When it comes to choosing a nursing home, it is hard to know exactly what the care is like before living there. However, if current residents are able to offer insight—by providing inside knowledge of staff instability trends—then future residents can better understand the environment they will be moving into.
“This change would not upend the entire rating system. Our findings offer the CMS a clear pathway to push the needle on quality care forward, making a real difference in the lives of nursing home residents and their families.” – Dana Mukamel, UC Irvine Distinguished Professor of Medicine
Ultimately, CMS has been taking action to collect data and adapt their policies accordingly. Addressing staff instability would go a long way to improving the Five-Star Quality Rating System.
If you or a loved one have been the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse, call Gharibian Law (866-642-5915) today for a FREE consultation and the best legal representation.
Nursing Home Staff Instability & Its Impact
In America, there is a Five-Star Quality Rating System used to gage the quality of nursing homes across the nation. This rating standard was established by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. However, in recent years, it has become clear that the system is lacking. Recently, the University of California conducted a study and found that staffing instability, as well as other staffing factors, had a massive impact on nursing home quality.
What is Staff Instability?
Put very simply, staffing instability is the fluctuation, hour to hour, of the number of staff members on duty. Typically, the metric used to determine if staffing is sufficient is just the number of employees on payroll. This does not take into consideration that there are typically times during the day that there are more employees on duty, and times that there are very few.
Instability also refers to the change on a day-to-day basis. For example, there are typically shifts (like those on holidays) where very few people want to work and therefore there is a shortage of help. Additionally, there are times of turnover and the transition from fully staffed to finding replacements for those who have left.
This instability causes inconsistent treatment and care, and can increase stress for those on duty when there are fewer hands to help.
The Impact of Instability
The University of California researchers looked at 13,600 nursing homes in 2023. Using a 5-to-50 point basis, they found that “21 percent of nursing homes experienced a change in their quality star rating.” Using a 10-to-100 point basis, they found that 21% jumped to 40%.
The researchers have posited that if a measurement of staff instability was added to the CMS rating system, residents and families would be able to make a more informed decision. When it comes to choosing a nursing home, it is hard to know exactly what the care is like before living there. However, if current residents are able to offer insight—by providing inside knowledge of staff instability trends—then future residents can better understand the environment they will be moving into.
“This change would not upend the entire rating system. Our findings offer the CMS a clear pathway to push the needle on quality care forward, making a real difference in the lives of nursing home residents and their families.” – Dana Mukamel, UC Irvine Distinguished Professor of Medicine
Ultimately, CMS has been taking action to collect data and adapt their policies accordingly. Addressing staff instability would go a long way to improving the Five-Star Quality Rating System.
If you or a loved one have been the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse, call Gharibian Law (866-642-5915) today for a FREE consultation and the best legal representation.