KEMMERER — Mountain Pacific Quality Health, a quality health organization under the Wyoming Department of Health, awarded South Lincoln Nursing Home the top award for Excellence in Quality.

Nurse center administrator Makayla Wynn said, “It is great to be recognized for the excellent care that we provide at the nursing center.” 

Wynn said the quality of care is measured on a point system that accounts for decreasing adverse drug events, preventing infection, decreasing readmissions and improving resident vaccination rates for influenza and pneumococcal vaccines. There’s also a bonus category that acknowledged nursing homes that were never referred to Mountain Pacific from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for a COVID-19 outbreak.

“We were the only ones in the state to get the Excellence in Quality Award,” Wynn told the Gazette.

There were four other homes in Wyoming that got the Achievement in Quality Award, one of which was Rocky Mountain Care in Evanston.

The five Wyoming long-term care facilities that met these goals received their awards during the Wyoming Hospital Association conference held by Leading Age Wyoming in Cheyenne on Wednesday, Aug. 30.

“All our nursing homes in Wyoming have persevered through trials of the pandemic,” said Callie Perkins, Wyoming account manager for Mountain Pacific. “Each has shown a dedication to providing quality care to our communities. Mountain Pacific is thrilled to present these awards and will continue to partner with long-term care facilities across our region to help ensure every resident receives the safest, highest quality of care possible.”

Wynn said they plan to continue to provide the best care possible.

“This is a very positive thing,” she said. “We are blessed to receive this award.”

Wynn said they hope to get the community involved through community outreach programs, such as story time. The event would partner with the library and include kids from the community coming into the nursing home once a month to read stories. 

In terms of COVID, Wynn said, “We are doing OK and have not had any outbreaks in over six months.”

The home currently has limited restrictions for visitors and recently had a family dinner night with community members.

The South Lincoln Nursing Home has eight nurses and 20 CNA staff.