News from Penacook Place

Dont just take our word for it —Second perfect survey in a row
March 2011

The board members, staff, residents, and families of Penacook Place often like to talk about the good work we do and the exemplary care we provide. We feel that we are justifiably proud of our facility and want to sing its praises. But there is an impartial third-party, the state’s Department of Public Health (DPH), whose job it is to annually inspect and evaluate all licensed nursing facilities. And for the second year in a row, DPH surveyors have determined that Penacook is deficiency-free. With its stamp of approval, the DPH is essentially affirming what we’ve been saying all along: Penacook consistently provides the highest quality care.

The state survey team, which is comprised of health care professionals, acts on behalf of Medicare to gauge how well nursing facilities adhere to federal and state quality and regulatory standards. The comprehensive, unannounced evaluations check for compliance on over 150 items, including areas such as nursing care, residents’ rights, food services, and administration. The inspectors tour the facility, speak with staff members, review records, and interview clients and families to gather data.

“It's especially gratifying to share the great news about our deficiency-free survey with the community now,” says Julian Rich, Penacook’s president and CEO. “Despite all of the challenges that health care organizations face, the DPH inspection validates the unyielding commitment that Penacook’s staff makes to its residents and to compassionate, quality care.”

Rich says that the inspection process does not give state surveyors the opportunity to make any comments about the facilities. But actions often speak louder than words; in addition to the zero-deficiency score, the survey team, which visited Penacook in December 2010, completed its inspection two days earlier than it had anticipated.

“Everything was in place and to their satisfaction,” Rich says. “By wrapping everything up in three days instead of the planned five days, it’s clear that they were pleased.”

Barely more than one in ten of the nation’s skilled nursing facilities receives a deficiency-free inspection in any one year. It is a rare distinction reserved for only the highest quality organizations; yet, Penacook merited two such inspections in a row and regularly earns the distinction. Neither Medicare nor the state’s DPH can provide details about the likelihood of a facility repeatedly receiving zero-deficiency inspections. However, it is an exceptionally unusual accomplishment.

“We have an exceptional staff,” says Rich. “They are the ones who deserve the credit for this.”

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