Eward J. Healey Rehabilitation and Nursing Center Earns Five-Star Rating On the Official U.S Government Site for Medicare and Medicaid
West Palm Beach, FL – The Edward J. Healey Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Palm Beach County’s only public skilled nursing care facility, has earned a Five-Star Quality Rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Nursing Home Compare web site, . The online comparison tool rates nursing homes around the nation on overall quality as well as in health inspections, staffing and quality measures. Of the 55 skilled nursing facilities in Palm Beach County, only four earned a Five-Star Quality Rating. Of the four facilities, the Healey Center, which is owned and operated by the Health Care District of Palm Beach County, garnered the highest number of stars overall, earning 13 of a possible 15 stars in the three categories.
“This achievement is a real testament to the quality care that our experienced medical and support staff at the Healey Center provide each day to some of our area’s most vulnerable residents,” said Ronald J. Wiewora, MD, MPH, the Health Care District’s Chief Executive Officer/Chief Medical Officer.
“This recognition is even more compelling in light of the challenges of providing complex care in an aging facility,” said Jonathan R. Satter, Health Care District Board Chair. “We are proud of this tremendous accomplishment.”
The information provided in the Nursing Home Compare web site allows families to better assess the quality of care at more than 17,000 nursing homes nationwide. The Healey Center’s Five-Star overall rating is a combination of the health inspection rating, the staffing rating, and the quality measures rating. About once a year, a team of trained health inspectors conduct onsite health inspections, reviewing care of residents, the process of care, staff and resident interactions, and the nursing home environment. The survey process uses a structured review of the medical records of the facilities and direct observation of patient care.
“The Healey Center is a unique and special place that many long-term residents call home,” said Darcy J. Davis, CPA, Chief Institutional Officer for the Health Care District. “This excellent rating attests to the dedication of the staff to ensure each resident recovers to the fullest extent possible.”
Serving the needs of the community since 1917, the Edward J. Healey Rehabilitation and Nursing Center is an important component of Palm Beach County’s healthcare safety net, providing long-term and short-term rehabilitation and skilled nursing care for eligible county residents with traumatic injuries or debilitating illnesses. While the Healey Center’s residents range in age from 22 to 102, the majority are under 64 years old.
“I am very proud of this recognition of our Healey Center team,” said Peggy Mallon, the Healey Center’s Administrator. “This Five-Star rating validates the quality care the Healey Center provides and bolsters our efforts to continue to improve as we move into the future.”
For more information about the Edward J. Healey Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, visit our web site at .
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About the Health Care District:
The Health Care District of Palm Beach County provides health coverage programs for uninsured residents, a nationally recognized Trauma System, dedicated nurses in nearly 170 public schools, a pharmacy, a long-term skilled nursing and rehabilitation center, and acute care hospital services at Lakeside Medical Center, the county’s only public hospital, serving t