UnityPoint at Home has been recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as a national leader in clinical excellence, with all eight of its Iowa and Illinois agencies ranking in the top 25 percent nationally in multiple quality measures.
The recognition comes from CMS’s annual evaluation of home health agencies across the country using data from patient assessments, patient surveys and insurance claims. The quality scorecards determine future reimbursement payments and allow patients and families to compare care organizations at local and national levels.
According to a news release, all eight UnityPoint at Home agencies — located in Cedar Rapids, Central Iowa, Dubuque, Fort Dodge, Sioux City, Storm Lake, Waterloo and the Quad Cities — ranked in the top 25 percent nationally in several categories, including improving patient function and preventing hospital stays.
Additionally, all UnityPoint at Home agencies ranked in the top 25 percent nationally for their Home Health Value-Based Purchasing composite scores, which includes helping patients remain in their homes after care.
CMS evaluates home health agencies on several key measures: patient function at discharge, which assesses how well patients are able to move and care for themselves when home health services conclude; remaining in the home after care, which measures how effectively patients are supported to safely stay at home rather than returning to the hospital or a skilled facility; and preventing hospital stays, which evaluates how well care teams help patients manage their health and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.
“This recognition reflects the dedication, compassion and clinical expertise of all our UnityPoint at Home care teams,” said Jenn Ofelt, UnityPoint at Home president in a statement. “We’re proud of this recognition because they represent real outcomes that matter to the patients, families and communities we serve.”
