For nursing homes and long-term care facilities, CMS Star Ratings are more than just a score; they directly impact reputation, reimbursements, and patient trust. Achieving and maintaining a high star rating requires excellence across multiple areas, including quality of care, regulatory compliance, and patient outcomes.
One of the most overlooked yet critical factors in CMS ratings is wound care. Facilities that struggle with wound management often face survey deficiencies, increased hospitalizations, and lower quality scores - all of which can negatively impact their CMS rating.
By partnering with Skilled Wound Care (SWC) physicians, nursing homes can improve patient outcomes, reduce complications, and enhance their compliance efforts, all of which contribute to a stronger CMS Star Rating.
Why Wound Care Matters for CMS Ratings
CMS Star Ratings are based on several key performance areas, many of which are directly impacted by wound care quality.
1. Hospital Readmissions & Avoidable ER Visits
One of the biggest factors in CMS quality ratings is how often patients are hospitalized or sent to the ER. Poor wound care leads to severe infections, sepsis, and complications, often resulting in unnecessary hospital transfers.
✅ How SWC Helps:
Prevent avoidable hospitalizations with weekly wound rounds and early intervention
Provide advanced bedside treatments to manage wounds on-site
Reduce infection risks through proactive monitoring and expert care
Facilities that reduce their hospital readmissions not only improve their star ratings but also enhance patient outcomes and overall care efficiency.
2. Deficiency-Free State & Federal Surveys
Pressure ulcers, chronic wounds, and delayed healing often result in CMS citations, especially if a facility is not meeting regulatory standards for wound care.
✅ How SWC Helps:
Ensures accurate wound documentation, reducing survey deficiencies
Trains nursing staff on wound prevention and best practices
Provides specialized physician oversight, ensuring compliance with CMS guidelines
With better wound care protocols, facilities can avoid costly fines and penalties while maintaining a strong CMS rating.
3. Patient Outcomes & Quality Measures
CMS evaluates facility performance based on patient well-being, complications, and overall quality of care. Chronic wounds significantly impact these measures if they are not treated effectively.
✅ How SWC Helps:
Speeds up healing times—SWC partner facilities achieve an average 6-week wound healing time.
Reduces facility-acquired pressure ulcers, a major CMS metric
Improves patient mobility, comfort, and overall health
Facilities that prioritize specialized wound care see higher quality scores, better health outcomes, and improved CMS ratings.
Investing in Wound Care to Elevate CMS Ratings
The right wound care program doesn’t just improve patient outcomes. it strengthens a facility’s financial standing, regulatory compliance, and reputation.
Partnering with Skilled Wound Care Means:
✅ Faster healing times and fewer complications
✅ Lower hospital readmission rates
✅ Better survey outcomes and fewer deficiencies
✅ Higher quality measures, leading to improved CMS scores
Nursing homes that proactively address wound care challenges are more likely to maintain or improve their CMS Star Ratings, leading to stronger reimbursements, higher occupancy rates, and better patient satisfaction.
Want to see how specialized wound care can transform your facility’s ratings? Contact Skilled Wound Care today and take the next step toward better patient outcomes and stronger CMS performance.
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