By Christopher Bouchard
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — The Caribou Rehab and Nursing Center has the distinction of being the only facility in Maine to consistently hold a five-star rating with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for eight consecutive years.
In addition to being the only facility in the state with this achievement, Caribou Rehab and Nursing is one of only 113 skilled nursing facilities in the United States to keep their perfect score since the inception of the rating program in late 2008.
According to an article written by Steven Littlehale for McKnight’s, a recent finding determined the case-mix adjusted rehospitalization rate for these 113 facilities was almost 4 percent lower than the others.
Caribou Rehab & Nursing Administrator Phil Cyr says the achievement would not have been possible without the facility’s staff.
“We retain only the best of the best as our staff,” said Cyr. “You can not provide level 10 service with level 5 employees. 100 percent of the recognition goes to our staff.”
The attitude of perfection, the administrator says, is an integral component of the employee environment.
“We have a culture here where we get a lot of praise from families and residents,” Cyr said. “If a new employee is cutting corners, our staff will be the first to point them out because they do not want anyone ruining the excellent quality of care they are known for. Everybody here is working to be the best of the best. Once you get that attitude developed in your staff, they maintain it.”
The rating system criteria is based on annual inspections as well as the number of formal complaints. However, an above average score in one area can offset a four-star rating in another. In the case of Caribou Rehab and Nursing, their above average staff helped mitigate a four-star rating from their annual inspection, and contributed to the facility’s long-standing five-star overall score.
“When you check the scores online, you will see an overall score, a score for inspection, a score for staff, and a score for quality measures,” said Cyr. “It starts with the inspection, but your quality and staffing can add to it.”
The absence of substantiated complaints has also contributed to the nursing home’s consistently high ranking, as a single complaint can lead to an investigation, which may result in the loss of a star.
“There are other five-star facilities today,” said Cyr. “We’re not the only good facility, but we’re the only one in Maine that’s held on and never lost the 5-star rating.”
