MCALLEN, Texas - For the third consecutive year, the inpatient rehabilitation units at STHS McAllen and STHS Edinburg have been recognized for their inpatient rehabilitation care.
According to the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation, that care is effective, efficient, timely and patient-centered. The care is so good, Netsmart Technologies, Inc., says, that the two hospitals are ranked in the top ten percent of inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) in the United States.
STHS stands for South Texas Health System, while Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation is a not-for-profit organization considered a leader in medical rehabilitation outcomes data.
“I am thrilled to share another milestone at South Texas Health System,” said Ricardo Flores , system rehab administrator for STHS. "For the third year in a row, our physical rehabilitation units have been recognized by Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (UDSMR) among the top ten percent of participating facilities – a remarkable achievement that speaks volumes about our commitment and excellence in patient care.”
Flores continued: “This is a powerful testament to the extraordinary collaboration across our facilities. Our dedicated team of therapists and nurses across acute, inpatient, and outpatient rehabilitation settings have tirelessly worked to elevate the quality of our services and expand our reach in the Rio Grande Valley. More patients now have access to top-tier rehabilitation care, a goal we've passionately pursued.”
In a statement on social media, Flores said the achievement is a direct reflection of his team's united efforts and dedication in setting and surpassing the highest standards in healthcare.
“Leading this exceptional team at South Texas Health System, I am deeply honored and grateful. Their steadfast dedication to service and outstanding patient care is what truly sets STHS apart as a leader in rehabilitation services. Being part of such a committed group, focused on making a real difference in the lives of those we serve, is both humbling and inspiring.”
Flores added: “Here’s to our team’s relentless drive for excellence and to making a significant impact in the healthcare community. We are committed to continuing this journey, ensuring the best for our patients and setting new standards in healthcare.”
Stephanie Stockton, senior data analyst for Netsmart said her group looked at cases discharged between October 2022 and September 2023 in 861 IRFs. Of these 861 IRFs, STHS McAllen and STHS Edinburg were ranked in the top ten percent.
Stockton said Netsmart’s scores are based on data that indicate efficiency and effectiveness from multiple sources — the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Patient Assessment Instrument (IRF-PAI), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ reporting tool for the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System (IRF PPS) and Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Quality Reporting Program (IRF QRP).
Stockton said the rankings were determined using Netsmart’s program evaluation model (PEM), which is a case-mix-adjusted and severity-adjusted tool that provides facilities with a composite performance score and percentile ranking that is drawn from over 80% of all IRFs in the country.
She said the PEM Report Card was created to identify and recognize top-performing facilities. She said it plays a pivotal role in elevating performance standards across the nation.
The goal of the PEM Version 2 Report Card, Stockton said, is to recognize high-performing facilities for their delivery of quality patient care that’s effective, efficient, timely and patient-centered.
“South Texas Health System has demonstrated their commitment to providing efficient and exceptional patient care, and we are delighted to present them with this esteemed award,” Stockton said. “As the creator and steward of the nation’s largest database for rehabilitation outcomes, UDSMR actively collaborates with industry leaders to establish and promote best practices.”
Stockton added: “We look forward to working with STHS and other facilities across the nation as we collectively strive to advance care standards throughout the IRF industry.”
STHS' Flores said the inpatient rehabilitation departments at STHS provide comprehensive patient evaluation and treatment for a variety of health conditions including stroke, traumatic injuries and more.
Flores said STHS also offers education to patients and families related to their condition and the recovery process, and work closely with other healthcare providers to ensure patient-appropriated individualized physical, occupational and speech therapy.
“Being recognized by UDSMR among the top ten percent of its subscribing facilities is a remarkable accomplishment for our physical rehabilitation units at South Texas Health System,” Flores said, via an STHS press release. “This success for the third consecutive year is not just a mark of excellence, it’s a testament to the extraordinary collaboration between our two locations. Our team’s dedication, hard work, and exceptional care have not only elevated the quality of services we provide but have also expanded our reach, ensuring more patients have access to top-tier rehabilitation care.”
Flores said the recognition from Netsmart highlights STHS’s commitment to quality, compassionate care.
He said it also showcases “the significant role our facility plays in the healthcare community. It’s a reflection of our team’s united efforts in setting and surpassing the highest standards in healthcare.”
This is the 16th year that these awards have been issued to inpatient rehabilitation facilities. The original PEM Report Card was developed by Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (UDSMR, LLC) as part of a proactive solution to the Institute of Medicine’s 2006 recommendation to Congress that every Medicare provider be reimbursed on a pay-for-performance basis.
The PEM Version 2 Report Card built upon the success of the original version, replacing certain effectiveness indicators with quality measures that were similar in nature and used in measuring IRF performance in the Medicare IRF QRP. The data used for this report was based on twelve months of data drawn from both Medicare and non-Medicare patients. The results were weighted and combined into a single composite score, and each facility was assigned a percentile rank from 0 to 100 relative to the other qualifying IRF subscribers in the UDS PRO® database.
Editor’s Note: For more information about the inpatient rehabilitation services at STHS, visit STHSMcAllen.com or STHSEdinburg.com.
