Nursing Home Information for Consumers

Nursing Home Information for Consumers

The Rhode Island Department of Health, Office of Facilities Regulation, is pleased to make nursing home survey information available to consumers to help evaluate the quality of care provided by the state's Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing homes. The Division inspects nursing homes at least every 9-15 months to assess compliance with federal standards of care such as adequacy of staffing, quality of care and cleanliness of facilities. Follow-up surveys for federal requirements, state licensing activities and complaint investigations account for additional on-site surveyor presence.

About the Surveys:

The Division's reports are technical in nature, therefore, they are sometimes difficult to interpret. In an effort to make survey results more available and understandable, the Division is using a new tool called the "Survey Performance Tool for Nursing Homes."

About the Survey Performance Tool:

Administration
Nursing
Resident Rights
Kitchen/Food Services
Environment

• The tool evaluates 88 items that have been reviewed during the last two standard surveys (44 selected items on each survey)
• The tool reports the number of requirements in each category that are in compliance and reports a total overall performance
• Consumers can use these reports to compare a nursing home's performance to the performance of other nursing homes
• A new report is generated after each new survey
• The tool does not include survey information for complaint investigations; however that information is available directly from the Division. The tool is only available for certified nursing homes that have received two standard surveys since January 1, 1996. Facilities will be added to the tool as surveys are completed.
• Facilities that are licensed only and do not participate in Medicare or Medicaid are not included in the tool.
• Consumers may call the Division at (401) 222-2566 to obtain survey information on facilities for which no tool is available.

Federal Certification Information:

The Health Care Financing Administration's (HFCA) Nursing Home Database contains information on every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home in the country. This Web site enables you to get summary information about particular types of problems found in the nursing home. You can access this site by clicking on "Nursing Home Compare".

Choosing a Nursing Home:

We hope that this tool assists the public in making informed choices when considering a nursing home for placement. We caution that no one document can adequately assess the appropriateness of a nursing home for a potential placement. The information provided in the Survey Performance Tool for Nursing Homes can not substitute for a personal visit and thorough review of a nursing home when choosing a facility for yourself or a loved one. Consumers should always visit each facility they are considering and spend time touring the facility and talking with residents, families and staff members. To get more information and tips on choosing a nursing home click on Choosing a Nursing Home.

Resources Available:

There are many resources available from your community to help with decisions about the quality of nursing home care or about alternative models of care. Exploring all of your options will ensure that you make the most informed choice possible. To get more information about the resources that are available, click on Resource List.

Public Information:

The Office of Facilities Regulation responds to requests pertaining to healthcare facilities licensed by the Department of Health and/or certified to participate in the Medicare and/or Medicaid program. These facilities include hospitals, nursing homes, rest homes, home health agencies, clinics, and laboratories. Requests for copies of materials contained in the Division's files may be submitted in writing. Request for a copy of the licensing Rules and Regulations may also be obtained at this address. When a request for public information involves staff research time and/or substantial amount of hard copy material, a fee may be applied.

Write request to:
Office of Facilities Regulation
3 Capitol Hill
Providence, RI 02908-5097

Telephone: 
(401) 222-2566

Fee Schedule

If you have questions about the fees, call the Division at the above telephone number.

Staff Time
$15.00 per hour, no cost for the first thirty (30) minutes of a search or retrieval

Copy Fee:
  $0.15 per page

Postage: 
by weight
Fees under $10.00 will be waived.

The Office of Facilities Regulation wishes to thank the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for their help in developing the "Survey Performance Tool for Nursing Homes".