BY TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR

On June 29, 2023, North Central Health Care (NCHC) announced Pine Crest Nursing Home had been awarded a five-star rating by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for outstanding care and service.
“The five-star rating is a testament to the tireless efforts of our dedicated team at Pine Crest, who work diligently day in and day out to provide compassionate and person-centered service to each resident,” said Gary Olsen, Executive Director at North Central Health Care. “Achieving a five-star rating is a significant accomplishment, as it signifies that Pine Crest consistently meets or exceeds the highest standards in every aspect of care provision.”
CMS created the five-star quality rating system to help consumers, their families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily and to help identify areas about which they might want to ask questions, a press release from NCHC said. On the Nursing Home Care Compare website (https://www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare), nursing homes are rated with a 1-star rating being the lowest and a 5-star rating being the highest. “Nursing homes with 5 stars are considered to have much above average quality and nursing homes with 1 star are considered to have quality much below average,” the release said. Each nursing home receives an overall rating, in addition to individual ratings for health inspections, staffing, and quality measures including overall resident satisfaction.
“We are thrilled to have received a five-star rating, which reflects our team’s commitment to delivering exceptional care and service to our residents and community,” said Ryan Hanson, Pine Crest Nursing Home Administrator. “Our dedicated team of healthcare professionals, including our compassionate nurses, skilled caregivers, and support staff, are the backbone of our success. Their expertise and commitment to our residents’ well-being are truly commendable.”
“Pine Crest takes immense pride in fostering a warm and nurturing environment that promotes physical, emotional, and social well-being for its residents,” the release said. “The facility offers a comprehensive range of services, including skilled nursing care, memory care for individuals with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, rehabilitation therapy, and engaging social activities designed to enhance residents’ quality of life.”
Pine Crest Nursing Home is a 120-bed skilled nursing facility that has served Lincoln County for nearly 70 years. Located at 2100 E. Sixth Street in Merrill, the nursing home sits on approximately 20 acres of shared land with the Lincoln County Government Services Center and the Lincoln County Department of Social Services building. The facility provides short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, dementia and memory care, and hospice/comfort services for adults and is managed by North Central Health Care. North Central Health Care serves communities in Marathon, Lincoln, and Langlade counties. For more information, go to www.norcen.org/PineCrest.