Good Shepherd’s Long-Term Care Homes Again Recognized by U.S. News & World Report

The Good Shepherd Home at the Conrad W. Raker Center [1] in Allentown and the Good Shepherd Home-Bethlehem [1] each received a ranking of five stars overall in U.S. News & World Report’s 2013 Best Nursing Homes [2]. The rankings highlight facilities across the nation providing high-quality care and focus on health inspection results, nurse staffing and quality measurements. This is the third year in a row that Good Shepherd’s two long-term care facilities have received the five-start designation.

Best Nursing Homes profiles more than 16,000 facilities and ranks them by state, using data and quality ratings from the federal government. Facilities that ranked highest in Best Nursing Homes 2013 earned overall five-star ratings. Only about one home in five 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 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.

“This recognition from U.S. News & World Report is a testament to the quality of care we provide,” says Sally Gammon, president & CEO, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network. “We are proud of our staff members, who ensure we deliver a high standard of compassionate care at our long-term care facilities.”

The U.S. News & World Report Best Nursing Homes rankings are compiled based on data from Nursing Home Compare, a consumer website run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This federal agency sets and enforces standards for nursing homes, defined as facilities or portions of facilities enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid that provide 24-hour nursing care and other medical services.