PUBLISHED: November 2023
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Long term care facilities continue to struggle to improve the quality of care, which affects publicly reported data and reimbursement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if state-mandated staffing ratios affected CMS survey ratings for CMS Region 7, which consisted of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. The theoretical framework was grounded by Donabedian’s quality theory, which described quality is made up of the elements of structure, process, and outcomes.

This study included two research questions evaluating if there was a correlation between minimum staffing ratios and quality of care in long-term care facilities among the four states in CMS Region 7 and if quality of care scores were higher in long-term care facilities due to state minimum staffing requirements among the four states in CMS Region 7.

Spearman’s ρ determined that a correlation existed between staffing ratios and quality of care rating. A Mann-Whitney U test concluded that there was not a significant difference between the groups with no minimum staffing requirements and states with minimum staffing requirements.

Reed, Melissa. Doctoral Study Effects of Mandatory Staffing Requirements on Quality Indicators in Long-Term Care. Nov. 2023, www.proquest.com/openview/ce3d98bdf0bbe15a9981f4bbbe96e2d8/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y.