The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences Advance Access originally published online on January 29, 2009
The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 2009 64B(2):269-278; doi:10.1093/geronb/gbn019
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A Panel Data Analysis of the Relationships of Nursing Home Staffing Levels and Standards to Regulatory Deficiencies
1 New York University College of Nursing, New York
2 Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco
3 Department of Economics, New York University Stern School of Business, New York
Address correspondence to Hongsoo Kim, PhD, MPH, RN, New York University College of Nursing, 246 Greene Street, Room 602 West, New York, NY 10003. Email: hk489{at}nyu.edu
| Abstract |
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Objective: To examine the relationships between nursing staffing levels and nursing home deficiencies.
Methods: This panel data analysis employed random-effect models that adjusted for unobserved, nursing home–specific heterogeneity over time. Data were obtained from California's long-term care annual cost report data and the Automated Certification and Licensing Administrative Information and Management Systems data from 1999 to 2003, linked with other secondary data sources.
Results: Both total nursing staffing and registered nurse (RN) staffing levels were negatively related to total deficiencies, quality of care deficiencies, and serious deficiencies that may cause harm or jeopardy to nursing home residents. Nursing homes that met the state staffing standard received fewer total deficiencies and quality of care deficiencies than nursing homes that failed to meet the standard. Meeting the state staffing standard was not related to receiving serious deficiencies.
Conclusions: Total nursing staffing and RN staffing levels were predictors of nursing home quality. Further research is needed on the effectiveness of state minimum staffing standards.
Key Words: Deficiencies Nursing home quality Nursing staffing State staffing standard
Received July 10, 2008; Accepted October 27, 2008