Kula Hospital has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report as a “high performing” nursing home with a 5 out of 5 rating. Photo courtesy Maui Health
Kula Hospital has been named one of U.S. News and World Report’s Best Nursing Homes for 2024, Maui Health announced Friday.
U.S. News released its 2024 Best Nursing Homes list last week, with updated ratings and profiles of more than 15,000 skilled nursing facilities nationwide. Nursing homes are evaluated on patient and resident outcomes, such as infection rates, staffing levels, reliance on antipsychotic drugs, health inspection results and other indicators of quality, U.S. News said in a news release Tuesday.
Kula Hospital was among the 19 percent of skilled nursing facilities that earned a “high performing rating,” the highest possible achievement, and has an overall rating of 5 out of 5.
To be recognized as one of the 2024 U.S. News Best Nursing Homes, a facility must have been “high performing” in short-term rehabilitation, long-term care or both.
Of the 15,007 nursing homes evaluated by U.S. News, Kula Hospital was one of only 12 percent rated as high performing in long-term care, with a rating of 3 out of 3.
“This rating reflects the wonderful care and compassion each of our team members share so willingly with our residents every single day,” Kula Hospital Director of Nursing Jennifer Leval said in a news release Friday. “We love what we do, are a special place to work, and the best place to receive care. We are proud and grateful to receive such esteemed recognition.”
According to the report, 90.8 percent of Kula Hospital residents maintained the ability to move, eat, use the bathroom and do other common activities without help, compared to 85.2 percent nationally and 87.3 percent in Hawaii. The hospital also had a low or average rate of health deficiencies per resident, which is determined by state inspectors.
When it came to staffing, a registered nurse was on site for at least eight hours on 100 percent of the days, compared to 97.6 percent nationally. However, the hospital rated below average for consistent weekend to weekday staffing.
The hospital used antipsychotic drugs at a lower rate than the national average, with 17.4 percent of residents given the drugs compared to 20.8 percent nationally, though this was above the rate of 11.5 percent in Hawaii. Lower rates are better, according to the report, as high levels of use of antipsychotic drugs can indicate inappropriate use for behavior control rather than for medical treatment.
The nursing home ratings were based on U.S. News’s in-depth analysis of publicly available data, including from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the federal agency that sets and enforces standards for nursing homes.
“Nursing homes that have earned the recognition of U.S. News have a track record of achieving better outcomes for patients and residents and maximizing the amount of care they receive from nurses and other staff,” said U.S. News Health Data Analyst Daniel Lara in the news release last week.
To view Kula Hospital’s ratings, visit health.usnews.com/best-nursing-homes.
Kula Hospital has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report as a “high performing” nursing home with a 5 out of 5 rating. Photo courtesy Maui HealthToday's breaking news and more in your inbox
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