Description of factors used in star ranking
1.	Resident quality of life ratings - Last Updated on 01/15/2011 with 2010 survey data.   Resident satisfaction/quality of life ratings is a measure based on actual interviews of nursing home residents. A sample of residents in each home was asked to rate their facility on numerous factors, including: Autonomy Comfort Customer satisfaction Dignity Environmental adaptation Food enjoyment Individuality Meaningful activity Mood Privacy Relationships Security Spiritual well-being 5 stars = highest possible rating 1 star = lowest possible rating Click here to view rating questionnaire (PDF: 327kb/4 pages) More about how this is measured
2.	Minnesota quality indicators -Last Updated on 08/26/2011 with 07/01/2010 - 06/30/2011 data. Every nursing home resident is assessed to determine the level of care they need. This assessment known as the Minimum Data Set (MDS) looks at things such as: Medical diagnosis Clinical conditions, such as sores, wounds or cuts Medications Mental functioning Ability to do certain things, such as get in and out of bed, walk, eat, bathe, etc. Quality indicators are derived from items in the minimum data set (MDS). Fifteen quality indicators make up the nursing homes ´ scores on this measure. Facilities performing at the highest level compared to other facilities in the state will receive 5 stars. Facilities performing at the lowest levels compared to other facilities will receive one star. More about how this is measured
3.	Hours of direct care -Last Updated on  09/30/2011, 10/1/2009 - 9/30/2010 report year data. Hour of direct care per day refers to the level of staffing provided, on average, in the facility. Direct care hours includes all staff who provide care to residents, including nurses, social workers and activity staff.
	5 stars = nursing homes staffed at the highest levels 1 star = nursing homes staffed at the lowest levels More about how this is measured
4.	Staff retention -Last Updated on  09/30/2011, 10/1/2009 - 9/30/2010 report year data. This refers to how many of the nursing and other direct-care employees remain employed at the facility for more than one year. Longer staff retention is generally associated with better quality of care.
	5 stars = nursing homes with a very high retention rate 1 star = nursing homes with a very low retention rate More about how this is measured
5.	Temporary staffing agency use -Last Updated on  09/30/2011, 10/1/2009 - 9/30/2010 report year data.  This refers to how often a facility uses temporary staff from an outside agency in place of permanent staff. Fewer temporary staff is generally associated with better quality of care.
	5 stars = nursing homes that use no or few temporary staff 1 star = nursing homes that have very high use of temporary staff More about how this is measured
6.	Proportion of single rooms -Last Updated on  09/30/2011, 10/1/2009 - 9/30/2010 report year data. This refers to the proportion of beds in the nursing home that are in single rooms.
	5 stars = nursing homes in which 90 percent or more of beds are in single rooms 1 star = nursing homes in which less than 15% of the beds are in single rooms
7.	State inspection results -Last Updated on 09/16/2011.  refers to the number and severity of citations issued to nursing homes by the Minnesota Department of Health. Citations are ranked from A (least severe) through L (most severe and widespread). Nursing homes are scored based on the results of the last 2 health survey inspections, the most recent life safety code inspection, and the provider’s complaint and incident investigation report history in the past year.
	5 stars = nursing home has good current survey and one year complaint and facility reported incident history. 4 stars = nursing home meets the 5 star criteria with the exception of higher numbers of citations or a weaker prior health survey history. 3 stars = nursing home has a single citation of non-patterned, non-widespread resident harm on the current survey or has a poor past history of survey compliance resulting in special survey agency attention. 2 stars = nursing home has broader resident harm, substandard quality of care, or immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety identified on EITHER the current survey inspection or one year complaint or facility reported incident history. 1 star = nursing home has the conditions found in the 2 star criteria on BOTH the current survey inspection and the complaint or facility reported incident history. More about how this is measured

For questions about this page, please contact: dhs.nhreportcard@state.mn.us

See also >
| Nursing home report card fact sheet. (pdf, 5 pages, 53k) | Technical Users Guide (pdf, 12 pages, 117k) |

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