Lenbrook Receives Medicare Five-Star Quality Rating
ATLANTA, (April 11, 2017) — Lenbrook, Atlanta’s only nationally accredited life plan community, has again earned a five-star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for its skilled nursing and rehabilitation services. Lenbrook’s healthcare center, with 60 private skilled nursing suites, is Medicare-certified and undergoes a rigorous onsite inspection survey by CMS staff each year.
CMS developed the five-star quality rating system to help consumers compare skilled nursing service providers. Each year, CMS rates the nation’s skilled nursing centers on a one to five scale and publishes the ratings on its website. The website is searchable by zip code, state or facility name and provides further details on the three components of the rating system: health inspections, quality measures and staffing. Scores in each of the three areas are then used to determine the overall star rating. Lenbrook has earned a five-star rating every year since it became certified in 2013.
“We encourage everyone to research and compare their best options for high quality rehabilitation services and skilled nursing care,” said Darlene Ruffin-Alexander, Vice President of Health Services for Lenbrook. “The Medicare star rating is just one of a several indicators you can use. Another is national accreditation by CARF (the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities), Ruffin-Alexander said. “We are extremely proud to be both a five-star, Medicare-certified health center and a CARF-accredited life plan community.”
About 13 percent of the nation’s 15,000 Medicare-certified skilled nursing facilities have earned the top five-star rating and about 10 percent of the nation’s nearly 2,000 continuing care retirement communities (now called life plan communities) have earned the comprehensive CARF accreditation. Lenbrook became the first life plan community in Atlanta to earn national accreditation in 1992 and remains the only community in the metro area to have done so.
“We are a not-for-profit organization committed to full transparency and providing the highest quality of care. We welcome third-party validation of our operations and pride ourselves on the high level of competency and compassion demonstrated by our staff each and every day,” Ruffin-Alexander said.
About Lenbrook (lenbrook-atlanta.org) Lenbrook is the first and only life plan community in Atlanta to achieve national accreditation by CARF, the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. Lenbrook’s healthcare center is five-star-rated by Medicare and also by U.S. News & World Report, which named Lenbrook in its 2016/17 Best Nursing Homes Report. In addition, Lenbrook holds a BBB rating from Fitch and is among only six percent of life plan communities around the country to have an investment grade rating. Founded in 1983 and doubling its size in 2008, Lenbrook enables its residents to enjoy the gifts of independence, good health and personal fulfillment through engaging programs, services and amenities. Visit www.lenbrook-atlanta.org or call 404-233-3000.