Good Samaritan awarded 5 stars by CMS;  St. Francis Skilled Care also has top honor

KEARNEY & GRAND ISLAND- On July 31, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings for 2024 and CHI Health Good Samaritan was awarded the highest achievement possible. 

Good Samaritan was one of only five acute care hospitals in Nebraska, and the only hospital west of Norfolk, to be awarded five stars. The 236-bed regional referral center, located in Kearney, is one of the nation’s top 250 hospitals and the area’s only Level II trauma center. The hospital has received CMS’ top honor for four consecutive years.

CMS’ five-star system is designed to assist patients, consumers and others in comparing hospitals side-by-side. The more stars, the better the hospital performs on the quality measures including  mortality, safety of care, readmission, patient experience and timely and effective care.

CMS awarded 102 fewer hospitals its five-star quality rating in 2024. 

CHI Health St. Francis in Grand Island was one of only five acute care hospitals in the state to achieve four-star status.

In addition, CHI Health St. Francis Skilled Care has a five-star rating in the Nursing Homes including Rehab Services division on CMS’ Care Compare website. The top mark includes quality measures for both long term and short term stays, the last three years of health inspections and staffing. The 36-bed unit provides 24/7 specialized care post hospitalization including rehabilitation services–physical, occupational and speech therapy.