Good Shepherd’s Long-Term Care Homes Receive High Ranking in U.S. News & World Report’s 2011 Best Nursing Homes

Allentown, PA - The Good Shepherd Home at the Conrad W. Raker Center in Allentown and the Good Shepherd Home-Bethlehem have each received a high ranking of five stars overall in U.S. News & World Report’s  2011 Best Nursing Homes, which is available online here. The rankings highlight facilities across the nation providing high-quality care and focus on health inspection results, nurse staffing and quality measurements.

U.S. News’ Best Nursing Homes profiles more than 15,000 facilities and ranks them by state, using data and quality ratings from the federal government. Facilities that ranked highest in Best Nursing Homes 2011 earned overall five-star ratings. Only about one home in seven met this standard.

Since 1908, Good Shepherd has provided long-term care for people with severe neurological and physical disabilities. Today, Good Shepherd offers long-term, residential care at its two facilities that have a total of 159 beds. Unlike traditional nursing homes, Good Shepherd’s long-term care facilities are home to individuals with severe disabilities that require acute 24/7 nursing care. Residents of the Conrad W. Raker Center and Good Shepherd Home-Bethlehem have diagnoses such as multiple sclerosis, brain injury, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury and muscular dystrophy. In 2008, Good Shepherd was named a Center for the Promotion of Excellence in Long-term Care by the National MS Society.

“Having our long-term care facilities recognized with five-star status by U.S. News’ Best Nursing Homes list is further recognition of Good Shepherd’s standing as a leader in the provision of long-term care,” says Sally Gammon, president & CEO, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network. “I am proud of the staff at both long-term care locations. Their skill and compassion are essential to the high-quality of care provided to Good Shepherd’s residents.”

The U.S. News’ Best Nursing Homes rankings rely on information from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the federal agency that sets and enforces quality standards for all homes enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid.