MeadowBrook of Granby Receives Highest Possible Quality Ranking

Granby's MeadowBrook skilled nursing facility was recently given five stars, the highest level possible, in the latest Medicare ratings.

Attaining an overall five-star rating isn't a common occurrence for nursing homes, although MeadowBrook often garners four stars. In the year's first set of ratings, Simsbury's McLean nursing home the only facility in the entire Farmington Valley to earn five stars.

“We’ve been working pretty hard to get that five-star rating,” said Lori Blackburn, MeadowBrook’s community coordinator.

Blackburn said the rating was the result of following recommendations suggested by state inspectors during past examinations, improvements throughout the facility and a general commitment to high-quality service and performance.

"We have an exceptional staff here at MeadowBrook that has helped us achieve the highest rating possible," said Don Davanzo, an administrator . "We are dedicated to providing the very best care for our short-term rehabilitation and our long-term patients."

The nursing home ratings are taken from three sources of data: health inspections, staffing information and quality measures. Medicare, the federal health insurance program for senior citizens and disabled citizens, uses these sources to provide a star rating for each of the categories.

The more involved process provides prospective clients with specific needs and interests with more detailed rankings. The three ratings are then combined to calculate an overall rating that is released four times each year.

MeadowBrook of Granby specializes in short-term rehabilitation, including joint replacement therapy and post hospital care, as well as skilled nursing for long-term residents. The residential facility offers 24-hour nursing care, cardiac and surgical recovery, pain management and ultrasound treatments, among many other therapeutic offerings. It employs a number of local and area residents.

“The rating is a testimony to our staff and administration,” Blackburn said.

The five-star quality rating system helps consumers, their families and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily and help identify areas in which to seek more information. The rating system is based on continued efforts as a result of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA '87), a nursing home reform law. The system also draws on more recent quality improvement campaigns such as Advancing Excellence in America's Nursing Homes, a coalition of consumers, health care providers and nursing home professionals. 

For more information on MeadowBrook, which is managed by Athena Health Care Systems, visit its website.