Brookhaven Health Care Facility Rated Best Nursing Home by Newsweek

Brookhaven News, Employee News, Press Room

Contact: Dawn Harsch, Director of Corporate Communications, (716) 479-3865

East Patchogue, NY – Newsweek has ranked The McGuire Group’s Brookhaven Health Care Facility ninth out of more than 600 facilities in New York state and among the nation’s top 750 out of 12,273 facilities analyzed for its 2024 Best Nursing Homes report.

Newsweek partnered with global data research firm Statista to create the annual ranking. The results are based on performance data, peer recommendations, management of the COVID-19 situation and accreditations from The Joint Commission and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. For the first time, resident satisfaction data for nursing homes, based on national safety goals from The Joint Commission and Google scores, has been added to the scoring model. Additionally, for the first time, the ranking included nursing homes with 100-149 beds, in addition to those with more than 150 beds as in previous years. Nursing homes in the 25 states with the highest population size, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS, 2023), were included in the study.

“This ranking is reflective of our team’s commitment to develop and implement impactful programs that are challenging the status quo in long-term care,” stated Chief Executive Officer, Susan Grigg, RN, BSN, CRRN, LNC, LNHA. “Our clinically progressive programs are allowing us to make a significant difference in the lives of our residents and in the overall quality of care in our community.”

Statista used Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services data to determine the performance of nursing homes. For peer recommendations, Statista invited thousands of medical experts including nurses, nursing home administrators, therapists, physicians and nursing assistants to participate in an online survey. Additionally, experts from across the US could participate in the survey of America’s Best Nursing Homes by state on newsweek.com.

The survey data was collected from June to July 2023. Statista and Newsweek calculated a COVID-19 score for each facility using CMS data to identify nursing homes that had the best possible response and protocols during the pandemic. For the first time, resident satisfaction data for nursing homes, based on national safety goals from The Joint Commission and Google scores, has been added to the scoring model.

The overall rating is the weighted average of the performance data score 35%, the reputation score 35%, the COVID-19 score 18%, the resident satisfaction score 7% and the accreditation score 5%.

Brookhaven Health Care Facility is a 160-bed facility that provides subacute rehabilitation, skilled nursing care, palliative care and respite/short-term care. For more information visit www.livinglegendshealth.com.

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Autumn View Health Care Facility Rated Best Nursing Home by Newsweek

Autumn View, Employee News, Press Room

Contact: Dawn Harsch, Director of Corporate Communications, (716) 479-3865

Hamburg, NY – Newsweek has ranked The McGuire Group’s Autumn View Health Care Facility as No. 29 out of more than 600 facilities in New York state and among the nation’s top 750 out of 12,273 facilities analyzed for its 2024 Best Nursing Homes report.

Newsweek partnered with global data research firm Statista to create the annual ranking. The results are based on performance data, peer recommendations, management of the COVID-19 situation and accreditations from The Joint Commission and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. For the first time, resident satisfaction data for nursing homes, based on national safety goals from The Joint Commission and Google scores, has been added to the scoring model. Additionally, for the first time, the ranking included nursing homes with 100-149 beds, in addition to those with more than 150 beds as in previous years. Nursing homes in the 25 states with the highest population size, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS, 2023), were included in the study.

“This ranking is reflective of our team’s commitment to develop and implement impactful programs that are challenging the status quo in long-term care,” stated Chief Executive Officer, Susan Grigg, RN, BSN, CRRN, LNC, LNHA. “Our clinically progressive programs are allowing us to make a significant difference in the lives of our residents and in the overall quality of care in our community.”

Statista used Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services data to determine the performance of nursing homes. For peer recommendations, Statista invited thousands of medical experts including nurses, nursing home administrators, therapists, physicians and nursing assistants to participate in an online survey. Additionally, experts from across the US could participate in the survey of America’s Best Nursing Homes by state on newsweek.com.

The survey data was collected from June to July 2023. Statista and Newsweek calculated a COVID-19 score for each facility using CMS data to identify nursing homes that had the best possible response and protocols during the pandemic. For the first time, resident satisfaction data for nursing homes, based on national safety goals from The Joint Commission and Google scores, has been added to the scoring model.

The overall rating is the weighted average of the performance data score 35%, the reputation score 35%, the COVID-19 score 18%, the resident satisfaction score 7% and the accreditation score 5%.

Autumn View Health Care Facility is a 230-bed facility that provides subacute rehabilitation, skilled nursing care, palliative care and respite/short-term care. For more information visit www.livinglegendshealth.com.

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Gahr Named Assistant Administrator at Absolut Care of Aurora Park

Aurora Park News, Employee News, Press Room

Contact: Dawn Harsch, Director of Corporate Communications, (716) 479-3865

EAST AURORA, NY – Kate Gahr has been appointed as the assistant administrator at Absolut Care of Aurora Park, one of six nursing and assisted living facilities in the Absolut Care portfolio. Absolut Care is part of an enterprise that is jointly branded as Living Legends and includes sister portfolios, the McGuire Group, Taconic Health Care and VestraCare. Together they provide care to more than 2,800 individuals across New York state.

In this role, Gahr is responsible for assisting with the planning, development and operational oversight of the 177-bed skilled nursing and rehab facility in accordance with all state, federal and local regulations.

Prior to her appointment, Gahr held roles at Elderwood as an occupational therapist, director of therapy and assistant administrator.

Gahr holds a master’s degree in occupational therapy from the University at Buffalo. She resides in Alden with her husband and children.

Absolut Care of Aurora Park provides skilled nursing care, subacute rehabilitation, memory care, hospice services, in-house dialysis and respite/short-term care. To learn more visit: www.livinglegendshealth.com.

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Bastian Named Administrator at Harris Hill Nursing Facility

Employee News, Harris Hill News, Press Room

Contact: Dawn Harsch, Director of Corporate Communications, (716) 479-3865

BUFFALO, NY – Stacy Bastian, RN, BSN, LNHA, has been appointed administrator of the McGuire Group’s Harris Hill Nursing Facility in Williamsville.

In this capacity, Bastian is responsible for planning, developing and directing the overall operations of the 192-bed facility in accordance with all state, federal and local regulations.

Bastian had previously worked at Harris Hill for 23 years advancing through the ranks and holding positions as a certified nursing assistant, LPN, RN, director of nursing and assistant administrator. For the last three years, she has worked for a sister portfolio as the administrator at Absolut Care of Aurora Park in East Aurora.

Bastian holds an associate degree and bachelor’s degree in nursing from Trocaire College and earned a long-term care administrator certificate from Saint Joseph College of Maine.

Bastian is a member of the Professional Nurses Association of WNY and the East Aurora Chamber of Commerce. She was the 2022 recipient of the ACHCA’s New Administrator of the Year Award and Business First’s Excellence in Health Care Award.

Harris Hill Nursing Facility provides skilled nursing care, subacute rehabilitation and respite/short-term care. The McGuire Group and Harris Hill are part of an enterprise that includes sister portfolios, RCA Healthcare Management/Absolut Care, Taconic Health Care and VestraCare which provide care to more than 2,800 individuals across the state. To learn more visit: www.livinglegendshealth.com.

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Dirlam Promoted to McGuire Group Regional Vice President

Employee News, Press Room

Contact: Dawn Harsch, Director of Corporate Communications, (716) 479-3865

BUFFALO, NY – Mark Dirlam, DPT, LNHA, has been promoted to the position of regional vice president for the McGuire Group, with oversight of its five Western New York-based skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities.

In this role, Dirlam is responsible for the management and operation of more than 1,100 beds and 1,900 employees at Autumn View Health Care Facility in Hamburg, Garden Gate Health Care Facility in Cheektowaga, Harris Hill Nursing Facility in Williamsville, Northgate Health Care Facility in North Tonawanda, Seneca Health Care Center in West Seneca.

Dirlam holds a doctorate in physical therapy from the University at Buffalo, where he was valedictorian of his graduating class, and a bachelor of arts in interpersonal communications from Bowling Green State University.

Prior to his appointment, he served as the Administrator at the organization’s Garden Gate Health Care Facility.

Dirlam is a member of the executive committee for Western New York NYSHFA and is a past member of the Trocaire College nursing advisory board and a legislative liaison for Western New York APTA.

The McGuire Group provides skilled nursing care, subacute rehabilitation, memory care, hospice and palliative care, in-house dialysis, telemetry services and respite/short-term care. The organization and its sister portfolios, RCA Healthcare Management/Absolut Care, Taconic Health Care and VestraCare provide care to more than 2,800 individuals across the state. To learn more visit: www.livinglegendshealth.com.

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Schleer Named Administrator at Garden Gate Health Care Facility

Employee News, Garden Gate News, Press Room

Contact: Dawn Harsch, Director of Corporate Communications, (716) 479-3865

BUFFALO, NY – Amy Schleer, RN, BSN, WCC, LNHA, has been appointed administrator of the McGuire Group’s Garden Gate Health Care Facility in Cheektowaga.

In this capacity, Schleer is responsible for planning, developing and directing the overall operations of the 184-bed facility in accordance with all state, federal and local regulations.

Schleer began her journey at Garden Gate as a volunteer when she was 13 years old. Over the last 30 years, she has advanced through the ranks at a number of McGuire Group facilities holding positions as a certified nursing assistant, cart nurse, unit coordinator, associate director of quality & education, assistant director of nursing and director of nursing. Most recently, she served as a regional quality assurance nurse at the McGuire Group’s corporate center.

Schleer holds an associate degree from Trocaire College and a bachelor of science in nursing from American Sentinel University. She received her long-term care administrator’s certificate from St. Joseph’s College of Maine.

Schleer has been a member of the Professional Nurses Association of WNY, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology, Specialized Medical Alert Response Team and Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society.

Garden Gate Health Care Facility provides skilled nursing care, subacute rehabilitation, complex medical care and telemetry monitoring, and respite/short-term care. The McGuire Group and Garden Gate are part of an enterprise that includes sister portfolios, RCA Healthcare Management/Absolut Care, Taconic Health Care and VestraCare which provide care to more than 2,800 individuals across the state. To learn more, visit: www.livinglegendshealth.com.

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New Partnership, Advanced Staffing Model Bring Progressive Care to East Aurora Community

Employee News, Press Room

Contact: Dawn Harsch, Director of Corporate Communications, (716) 479-3865

East Aurora, NY – Absolut Care of Aurora Park, a 176-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility, is pleased to announce a partnership with Dr. Justin Green and Highgate Medical Group to oversee the day-to-day clinical care at the facility.

The partnership mirrors that of Aurora Park’s sister facilities within the McGuire Group portfolio, where Highgate Medical has provided clinical services since 2016.

The success of the partnerships is attributed to a unique staffing model which is unmatched in magnitude by any other provider group in the area. The model has impactfully changed the evolution of primary care within nursing facilities and includes full-day in-house provider coverage through the use of advanced care practitioners (ACPs). Benefits of this staffing model include continuity of care, stability for the facility’s medical team, enhanced interactions with residents and family members and the reduction in hospitalizations with providers treating emergent issues at the bedside.

As Aurora Park’s medical director, Dr. Green oversees the day-to-day clinical care and provides quality assurance reviews, develops care plans, participates on ethical committees, provides assessments for new admissions and oversees the care of long-term residents.

Dr. Green is an associate partner at Highgate Medical Group which is one of the lead practices in the Primary Care IPA (PCIPA). PCIPA is comprised of 24 practices and 86,000 adult patients. As such, Aurora Park is a preferred site for all 24 practices within the IPA. When patients are diverted to Aurora Park for rehabilitation or other services, Dr. Green oversees the care, facilitates communication with the primary care providers and ensures a smooth hand-off and follow-up as the patients transition back to their PCPs. “When groups are aligned, there’s a collaboration and combination of resources,” he stated. “This creates a stronger presence in the community while improving patient care, enhancing communication, providing cohesive medical histories and incorporating best practices.”

Absolut Care of Aurora Park provides subacute rehabilitation, skilled nursing care, memory care, in-house dialysis, hospice care and respite/short-term care. In 2020, RCA Healthcare Management took over the management of Aurora Park and five other facilities in the Absolut Care portfolio after they had fallen into bankruptcy under the former owner. At that time, Aurora Park had an overall rating of one star out of five by the federal government. Today, the facility boasts a three-star overall rating and a five-star rating for quality measures. “Our team continues its mission to enhance the quality of programs and services for East Aurora and the surrounding communities,” stated Administrator Stacy Bastian, RN, BSN, LNHA.

In 2022, Absolut Care and its sister portfolios, including the McGuire Group, Taconic Health Care and VestraCare, underwent an enterprise-wide rebranding as Living Legends. The initiative communicates consistency in c-suite leadership, policies and procedures, workplace environment and best practices in all four portfolios. For more information, visit www.livinglegendshealth.com.

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Burridge Named as Winner of NYSHFA/NYSCAL Registered Nurse of the Year

Employee News, Press Room

Contact:

Dawn Harsch, Director of Corporate Communications
(716) 479-3865

EAST PATCHOGUE, NY – Kellie Burridge, RN, director of nursing at Brookhaven Health Care Facility in East Patchogue, will be presented with NYSHFA/NCAL’s Registered Nurse of the Year Award at its annual awards banquet in May at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, NY.

Burridge has been employed at Brookhaven Health Care Facility since 1989 and has moved up the ladder having held roles as a certified nursing assistant, medication nurse, unit coordinator, clinical instructor, associate director of nursing, assistant director of nursing, and her current role as director of nursing, a position which she has held for seven years.

Burridge is a graduate of Eastern Suffolk BOCES and Excelsior College. She is a member of the American Nurses Association, National Association of Professional Women, and Association for Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology. She resides in Center Moriches and has two daughters, Lauryn and Caitlyn, and a son, Daniel.

Brookhaven Health Care Facility provides 24-hour skilled nursing care, subacute rehabilitation, advanced telemetry monitoring and respite/short-term care. The facility’s telemetry unit has earned the

American Heart Association’s Skilled Nursing Facility Heart Failure Certification, which includes meeting rigorous science-based requirements for heart failure patients. Additionally, the facility continuously receives outstanding star ratings from the federal government, which rates every nursing home in the country. Brookhaven Health Care Facility has finished in the top quintile of New York state’s Nursing Home Quality Initiative (NHQI) since its inception. It is the only facility in Suffolk County to have achieved this milestone for nine out of nine years. Learn more at www.livinglegendshealth.com.

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Certified Nursing Assistants Graduate at Sunset Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

Employee News, Press Room, Sunset News

Contact:
Bobby Dolan, Director of Recruitment & Marketing, (315) 832-8200
Dawn Harsch, Director of Corporate Communications, (716) 479-3865

 

Certified Nursing Assistants Graduate at Sunset Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

Sunset Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Boonville is proud to announce its recent class of nursing assistant training graduates. Pictured from left: Darlene Stratton, Jessi Brundage, Lindsay Shephard, Hailey Kein, Melissa Champion, Cheryl Spann. The facility offers a paid certification program that is accredited by the New York State Department of Health.

During the program, the students acquired patient care and life skills, hours of clinical experience and classroom curriculum. They completed clinical rotations on each nursing unit while working alongside the instructors and Sunset’s legendary nursing team. The students also worked closely with the Sunset’s therapy department to learn and develop therapeutic, adaptive skills and communication approaches when working with residents with cognitive impairments.

Being able to work with the residents one-on-one during the class provides the students with the knowledge, compassion and expertise they need to become living legends of Sunset Nursing and Rehabilitation. The class provides them with the necessary experience in clinical and classroom proficiency, which gives them the satisfaction of knowing they are making a difference in the residents’ lives.

Sunset Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is a premier provider of training in Oneida County for the certified nursing assistant program. This ongoing program provides training to individuals for employment in long-term care.

If you are interested in making a difference, consider becoming a Living Legend certified nursing assistant. For more information on the CNA training program, apply online at www.LivingLegendsHealth.com or contact Robert Dolan, director of recruitment and marketing at (315) 832-8200 or rdolan@sunsetnrc.com.

 

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Czora Promoted to Chief Nursing Officer at 19 New York Health Care Facilities

Employee News, Press Room

Contact: Dawn Harsch, director of corporate communications, news@mvgservices.com

BUFFALO, NY – Andrea Czora has been promoted to the position of chief nursing officer at 19 New York-based health care facilities in four portfolios including The McGuire Group, RCA Healthcare Management/Absolut Care, Taconic Health Care and VestraCare. Prior to her appointment, Czora served as regional vice president of the McGuire Group and RCA Healthcare Management/Absolut Care portfolios.

In this role, Czora will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of clinical, quality and regulatory compliance for the enterprise’s skilled nursing, rehabilitation and assisted living facilities. This includes providing guidance to regional vice presidents, supporting the facilities and ensuring the enterprise’s mission to provide superior care to more than 2,800 residents.

Czora holds an associate degree from Trocaire College and a bachelor of science in nursing from Daemen College where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Facilities in the McGuire Group portfolio include: Autumn View Health Care Facility in Hamburg, Brookhaven Health Care Facility in East Patchogue, Garden Gate Health Care Facility in Cheektowaga, Harris Hill Nursing Facility in Williamsville, Northgate Health Care Facility in North Tonawanda and Seneca Health Care Center in West Seneca.

Facilities in the RCA Healthcare Management/Absolut Care portfolio include: Absolut Care of Allegany in Allegany, Absolut Care of Aurora Park in East Aurora, Absolut Care of Gasport in Gasport, Absolut Care of Three Rivers in Painted Post, Absolut Care of Westfield in Westfield and Orchard Brooke Assisted Living Center in Orchard Park.

Facilities in the Taconic Health Care portfolio include: Taconic Rehabilitation and Nursing Center at Beacon in Beacon, Taconic Rehabilitation and Nursing Center at Hopewell in Fishkill and Taconic Rehabilitation and Nursing Center at Ulster in Highland.

Facilities in the VestraCare portfolio include: Chautauqua Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Dunkirk, Roscoe Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Roscoe, Sunset Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Boonville and Susquehanna Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Johnson City.

Services include skilled nursing care, subacute rehabilitation, assisted living, memory care, hospice and palliative care, in-house dialysis and respite/short-term care. To learn more visit: www.livinglegendshealth.com.

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