It was announced today that the sunshine state is showing significant improvement in the overall quality of care at long term care centers, which now ranks among the top ten states in the United States.
Boosted by legislative funding, the state now ranks above national averages in staff training, drug administration, and depression management.
In a new Quality Care Report that was issued by the Florida Health Care Association, Florida was consistently among the strongest performers in both current quality measures and gains made over the last several years. These findings were based on federal data on a wide range of standard quality measurements.
Florida jumped from 16thplace overall among states in 2014 to now ranking 7thoverall, and Florida ranked #1 in the United States in setting requirements for staffing hours. In addition, it is first among the nation’s ten most populous states in overall nurse staffing rates.
Emmett Reed, the FHCA Executive Director, noted that “Florida’s long-term care centers are extraordinarily dedicated to providing the best care possible for our residents, and the Legislature has been an outstanding partner by providing resources to make these improvements possible.”
Reed also added that “It’s clear that resources dedicated to quality care means money well spent, not just for those we serve but also for the professionals who devote their lives to our residents.”
The report also shows that Florida ranks among the top ten states in positive outcomes for long-stay residents when measuring the portion of residents needing increased help with daily activities, and it ranks among the best five states in having the lowest portion of short stay residents with new or worsened pressure ulcers and self-reporting moderate to severe pain.
Reed further detailed that the FHCA was “gratified to see this visible proof of outstanding quality of care provided by Florida’s long-term care profession and the progress over the last several years.”
“Funding and quality improvements go hand in hand, and we appreciate the support of the Legislature for recognizing that in recent years. We ask for their continued support by extending the 2018 Medicaid funding increase – to advance the hard work, commitment, and compassion of the outstanding men and women who care for our residents on a daily basis,” he concluded.
