Published in The Pawtucket Times, May 2003

A growing number of Americans are doing their shopping for products and services, via the Internet.  But if the federal government has its way consumers in five states will rely on Medicare and Medicaid programs and their family members, will be able to cruise the world wide web to find the best nursing facilities to meet their specific needs.

Rhode Island is among five states chosen by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for a pilot project that will identify collect, and publish nursing home quality information on the Internet for easy access and comparison of facilities.

The other states are Colorado, Maryland, Ohio and Washington.  Eventually, this federally-funded initiative will be expanded nationwide.

People covered by Medicare and Medicaid have the power to choose the best care to meet their individual needs, but they have to have more reliable information to choose quality care, HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson, who oversees the Medicare and Medicaid programs. “Our efforts will help beneficiaries all across the country to compare the performance of their local nursing homes, and will provide the recognition that high-quality nursing homes deserve”.

In April 2002, the newly compiled performance information becomes available online at www.medicare.gov and will also be disseminated through Rhode Island Quality Partners, an agency contracted by the federal government to oversee the quality of health services provided to Rhode Island Medicare beneficiaries.

So what information can consumers find when shopping for the right nursing facility on the world wide web?

Currently, the CMS’s website provides nursing facility-specific information compiled from state annual surveys.

As a result of this five state pilot project, consumers will be able to see data culled from the Minimum Data Set (MDS), a standardized medical collection form that every nursing home is required to complete on every patient upon admission and on a regular schedule thereafter.

For those seeking a long-term placement, CMS will bring together comparative state-wide information that indicates quality care is being provided.  When shopping you will be able to find out how many residents are being physically restrained, how many have pressure sores, how many are taking anti-psychotic drugs without a psychiatric diagnosis, how many have lost weight, how many have acquired an infection, and finally how many residents can no longer take care of themselves.

For those seeking short-term stays after hospitalization, CMS will provide state-wide MDS data compiled from nursing facilities that can tell you how many residents are in pain, how many residents fail to recover from delirium, along with how many are re-hospitalized and improvement in walking.

Dr. David R. Gifford, principal clinical coordinator with Rhode Island Quality Partners, told All About Seniors that CMS chose Rhode Island for the pilot project because of the state’s interest in public reporting of consumer information.  He noted that CMS was aware of Lt. Gov. Charles Fogerty’s legislation, recently enacted that now requires reporting of nursing facility quality information.

“We’re very pleased to be involved in the pilot project because it allows us to help shape the national data dissemination effort,” Gifford adds.

How will consumers not computer savvy gain access CMS’s new quality measures?

Dr. Gifford notes that each state participating in the pilot project must develop other avenues for non-computer users to tap into the MDS data compiled on its website.

Roberta Hawkins, Executive Director of the Alliance for Better Long Term Care and the state’s ombudsman, applauds the new federal effort to help consumers in choosing nursing facilities.

However, Hawkins is concerned that the MDS does not always provide “insight into the personality of a nursing facility.”

“MDS won’t tell you if a facility’s staff are compassionate to residents.”  she says.  Additionally, the newly compiled CMSA information will not provide you with specifics about how some facilities specialize in taking care of ethnic populations.”  she added, specifically, if staff speak a foreign language, sever ethnic cuisine, or plan culturally-related activity programming.

Additionally, Hawkins notes that while CMS’s website may tell you how many persons have bed sores, a higher incidence of bed sores may only reflect that a newly admitted resident came to the facility with bed sores or that a facility specializes in taking care of that medical condition.

At best, internet information can only provide a snapshot of care being provided by facility staff, warns Hawkins.  “Today’s best nursing homes may become next weeks providers of poor care,” she adds, when key staff in leadership positions leave the facility.

Take advantage of CMS’s website to cull nursing facility specific information compiled from state annual surveys.

When in doubt, call the Alliance for Better Long-Term Care at 785-3340.