Athens Regional’s Home Health Care, an affiliate service of Athens Regional Health System, recently received an exceptional four out of five star quality rating from Home Health Compare.

The rating, which is completed quarterly, places Home Health at Athens Regional in the top 80th percentile of home care services in the nation. Only 15 percent of agencies nationwide receive this high quality score.

Home Health Compare looks at nine quality measures to determine the ratings. These measurements all focus on the improved health and mobility of the patients during their time under home health care, such as improved breathing, improved walking and decreased pain while moving. Home Health at Athens Regional received the highest score for its medication education to patients.

Pam Hall, executive director of Home Health at Athens Regional, believes ratings such as the ones published by Home Health Compare are vital to patient care.

“It gives the patients an assurance, a quick way of determining which agency is the best,” Hall said. “It is another way patients and referral agencies can be assured they’re getting quality care.”

Home Health at Athens Regional offers in-home care to patients recovering from illness, injury or surgery. The nurses and therapists are available to provide one-on-one care around the clock to help patients achieve function and mobility goals. 

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, sponsors the Home Health Compare star rating system in an effort to comply with the Affordable Care Act’s call to provide transparent and easily understood care information to patients.

Home Health care is offered by Athens Regional in five counties, including Barrow, Clarke, Jackson, Madison and Oconee.

To learn more about Athens Regional Home Health, visit www.athenshealth.org or call 706-475-5500.