Gunnison Valley Health’s Senior Care Center Receives Four-Star Quality Rating

Gunnison Valley Health’s Senior Care Center recently received a four-star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The rating is a part of the Nursing Home Compare public reporting site which provides residents and their families a resource to understand and compare the quality of long-term care facilities. For Gunnison Valley Health, the four-star rating represents an improvement that places them in the top 20 percent of Colorado’s long-term care facilities.

Gunnison Valley Health’s Senior Care Center Administrator, Mary Blattner, said the increased rating represents the success of the team’s quality and process improvement efforts.

“Every member of the team has worked tirelessly to continually improve our processes and procedures which, ultimately, results in an increased quality of care provided to our residents,” Blattner said. “I am so proud of this team; their work ethic and dedication show what truly exceptional care can be.”

The rating is derived from four domains: health inspections, staffing, RN staffing and quality measures; all of which are measured on an ongoing basis through surveys, inspections and the Minimum Data Set (MDS), a tool which provides a comprehensive and standardized measurement of care provided to residents.

Increasing your rating is a difficult thing to do under the best of circumstances, to have it happen during the COVID pandemic marks an even greater accomplishment for the team.

“Throughout the pandemic we implemented and maintained incredibly successful infection prevention measures which kept our residents safe,” Blattner said. “The pandemic and related staffing challenges have taken a toll on everyone, but this team continues to work together and always put the safety and well-being of our residents first.”

In addition to improved infection prevention measures, the staff has continuing success with maintaining a low wound rate and decreasing resident falls through a multi-disciplinary quality process that focuses on monthly review and quick implementation of improvements.

Gunnison Valley Health CEO, Jason Amrich, applauded the commitment to quality and safety at all levels of the facility.

“It is incredible to see every person involved in resident care – from the medical director and GVH pharmacist to the nurses and life enrichment coordinators – focus on growth and continual improvement,” Amrich said. “The level of care provided at our Senior Care Center ranks among the best in Colorado. I look forward to seeing what we will achieve together as we continue to identify and implement new quality initiatives.”