The Edward J. Healey Rehabilitation and Nursing Center is among the 13% of U.S. skilled nursing facilities that have been recognized as a Best Nursing Home for 2021-22 by U.S. News & World Report. The Healey Center is a modern, 120-bed facility operated by the Health Care District of Palm Beach County that is home to some of the county’s most vulnerable residents.
The Healey Center earned Best Nursing Homes status by achieving a rating of “High Performing,” the highest possible rating, for Long-Term Care. U.S. News gives the designation of Best Nursing Home only to those homes that satisfy U.S. News’s assessment of the appropriate use of key services and consistent performance in quality measures. As nursing homes and facilities across the country continue to grapple with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. News remains at the forefront of providing data-driven information and guidance to help residents, families and caregivers understand their long- and short-term care options.
“We’re honored to receive the ‘Best Nursing Homes’ designation for the third year in a row,” said Darcy J. Davis, the Health Care District’s Chief Executive Officer. “Without the Healey Center, many of our residents would have nowhere else to turn for skilled nursing care and comprehensive rehabilitation. Our safety net facility has an over 100-year legacy of providing a home of hope and healing.”
Now in its 12th year, the U.S. News Best Nursing Homes ratings and profiles offer comprehensive information about quality of care, COVID-19 vaccination requirements for residents and staff, flu and pneumonia vaccination rates, and infection control violations listed on the resident safety summary. Individuals can easily conduct customized research for a highly rated nursing home by location, size and Medicare and Medicaid coverage.
“Receiving this national recognition again this year is a testament to the exemplary care provided by the dedicated health care professionals at our skilled nursing facility,” said Leslie B. Daniels, Health Care District Board Chair. “I congratulate the Healey Center team for this outstanding achievement.”
“The Healey Center is home to a younger adult population than most nursing homes,” added Karen A. Harris, the Health Care District’s Vice President of Field Operations. “The average age of our residents is 62 and the youngest is 27. Many have suffered traumatic injuries, strokes or debilitating illnesses. We provide a continuum of specialized care for residents to reach and maintain their highest optimum level of functional and social ability.”
This year’s methodology includes an emphasis on homes meeting certain standards of patient safety, which could limit a home’s ability to achieve a ‘High-Performing’ rating. These standards include a minimum threshold for the staff COVID-19 vaccination rate, overuse of antipsychotic drugs and frequent visits to the emergency department, among other criteria. Homes that have below a 75% COVID-19 staff vaccination rate are not considered a leading facility. A significant percentage of Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care programs that would otherwise have qualified as ‘High-Performing’ were downgraded at the time of publication.
The ratings include data on staffing, success in preventing ER visits and pneumonia vaccination rates, among other metrics. Out of 13,175 nursing homes that received a Long-Term Care Rating, 1,063 were designated as High-Performing. For more information behind the U.S. News ratings please refer to the FAQ.
About the Health Care District
The Health Care District of Palm Beach County provides primary medical care and dental services for adults and children at the C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics, a coordinated and lifesaving Trauma System that includes two FAA-certified Trauma Hawk air ambulances, registered nurses in nearly 170 public schools, short and long-term skilled nursing at the Edward J. Healey Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Riviera Beach, and acute care at its teaching hospital, Lakeside Medical Center, which is accredited by The Joint Commission and serves the rural Glades’ communities.
About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower citizens, consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
