NYC Health + Hospitals earns 5-star ratings for exceptional care

NYC Health + Hospitals has announced that all five of its public long-term care facilities have earned a prestigious 5-Star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

This recognition underscores the exceptional care provided to residents at facilities including NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter in Harlem, Coler on Roosevelt Island, Gouverneur in Lower Manhattan, McKinney in Brooklyn, and Sea View in Staten Island.

The 5-Star rating system serves as a crucial indicator for New Yorkers and prospective patients, reflecting how well a facility meets the physical and clinical needs of its residents.

The evaluation is based on health inspections, staffing levels, and various quality measures, with facilities able to achieve a maximum of five stars.

CMS ratings are derived from three key domains: health inspections, which assess the three most recent health inspections and any investigations prompted by resident complaints, conducted by trained inspectors; staffing, which evaluates staffing levels, considering the average daily hours of care provided to each resident by nursing staff tailored to their specific needs; and quality measures (QMs), which provide insight into how well nursing homes care for residents’ physical and clinical needs.

“The recent 5-Star CMS Quality Ratings of our post-acute facilities is a testament to the comprehensive person-centered care, compassion and dignity we offer New Yorkers when long-term care and rehabilitation becomes their path to healing and maintaining independence,” stated Dr. Khoi Luong, Senior Vice President of Post-Acute Care at NYC Health + Hospitals.

Marisol Arroyo, Chief Quality Officer for Post-Acute Care, expressed pride in the achievement, saying, “We are extremely proud that all our post-acute facilities have earned a 5-Star in Quality once again. It demonstrates the commitment of our team to provide the highest quality care and safety to our short-term rehabilitation patients and long-term residents.”

Highlighting the importance of staffing, Marian McNamara, Chief Nursing Officer, remarked, “One essential component in maintaining 5-stars is the staffing component. We have amended our staffing plans to not only meet, but exceed, the state recommended staffing hours per resident per day. This rating validates extraordinary quality care provided to our residents’ post-acute care nursing teams. They truly are the heart of healthcare.”

Susan Sales, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur, added, “I’m proud that the Gouverneur Skilled Nursing Facility is among the best nursing homes in New York, as noted by the CMS 5-star rating — the highest possible — based on our excellent staff’s contribution to providing high-quality care.

This rating would not be possible without the work of our hardworking interdisciplinary team including nurses, doctors, dietitians, rehabilitation specialists and the many support departments that help run Gouverneur.”

Matthew Levy, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Sea View, emphasized the role of staff dedication, stating, “While the 5-star CMS rating system helps define our success, it is the daily approach and dedication from the staff that has helped us to sustain these rankings. Staff are trained to treat all residents with the utmost respect, ensuring that their dignity is maintained. We build strong and trusting relationships with our residents, patients, and their families.” Stephen Catullo, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler, highlighted the commitment of their front-line staff: “Coler’s consistent 5-Star Quality Rating demonstrates our front-line staff’s commitment to excellence in their provision of resident-centered care. They set a standard of quality which inspires everyone around them to provide safe and effective care and treatment to our residents.” Floyd Long, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter, expressed his pride in the facility’s ongoing success: “It is a great honor that Carter has continued to earn a 5-star Quality Rating. The Five Star Quality Rating System is a tool to help those seeking skilled nursing care the opportunity to review and compare their performance. It is our goal to continue to improve our performance and remain a high-performing organization as we play a vital role in the NYC Health + Hospitals mission.”

Lastly, David Weinstein, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/McKinney, noted, “Five stars is important to our McKinney residents and their families. It indicates that we are performing at an exemplary level which builds trust, allowing our staff to always do what’s right. Having the right resources in the right place has allowed us to maintain the highest of standards. Our staff take great pride in the work they do, and I salute all of them for their continued commitment to excellence.”