Symphony Evanston Healthcare

Symphony Evanston Healthcare has an overall rating of above average. The facility is located along Ridge Avenue in Evanston which is the first northern suburb adjacent to Chicago’s north side. The facility has 148 certified beds and participates in both Medicare and Medicaid. Symphony Evanston Healthcare is owned by an individual and operated for-profit. It is not in a continuing care retirement community. Symphony Evanston Healthcare has a resident and family council.

Resident and family councils can facilitate communications with the nursing home staff. The law requires nursing homes to allow councils to be set up by residents and their families. If a nursing home does not have a resident and family council, the resident or family member should ask the nursing home administrator why that is the case. It is also important to talk with a council president to learn about how the nursing home has acted on different issues.

The Illinois Department of Health and Human Services regularly inspects Illinois nursing homes on average every 18 months. A health inspection was done at Symphony Evanston Healthcare with a full report on May 26, 2016. At that health inspection, five health deficiencies were reported. One deficiency was in quality care, one deficiency was in resident rights, one was for nutrition and dietary and two were for environmental. In addition, fire safety deviancies are also reported during routine inspections. There were no fire safety deficiencies at Symphony Evanston Healthcare. In addition to the health inspections, complaint inspections occur where a resident or a family member or a loved one of a resident reports a deficiency to the department. A full report was filed on September 12, 2015 from a complaint inspection between September 1, 2015 and August 31, 2016.

Based on observation, interview and record review, Symphony Evanston Healthcare failed to provide an individual call light cord and call light accessibility for one resident who was sampled in the review. On September 10, 2015, a single call light cord was observed in a resident’s shared room. This call light was attached to the bed near the window belonging to one resident but there was no call light cord accessible for use near the other resident’s bed.

Staffing is almost always considered one of the most important assets of an Illinois nursing home. Symphony Evanston Healthcare received a staffing rating of above average. Importantly, its registered nurse staffing rating is much above average. The total number of licensed nurse staff hours per resident per day at Symphony Evanston Healthcare was 1 hour and 48 minutes compared to 1 hour and 33 minutes for the Illinois average and 1 hour and 42 minute for the U.S. average. The registered nurse hours per resident per day at Symphony Evanston Healthcare was 1 hour and 35 minutes. The Illinois average for registered nurse hours per resident per day is 56 minutes and the national average is 51 minutes. The certified nursing aide (CNA) hours per resident per day at Symphony Evanston Healthcare was 3 hours. The Illinois average is 2 hours and 16 minutes and 2 hours and 28 minutes being the national average. In the area of physical therapy staff hours per resident per day, Symphony Evanston Healthcare offered 22 minutes whereas the Illinois and national averages are both 6 minutes of physical therapy staff hours per resident per day.

At Symphony Evanston Healthcare’s short-stay residents made improvements in function at the rate of 75.5%. This compared very favorably to the Illinois average of 60.1% and the national average of 63.3% in this category. 20.3% of Symphony Evanston Healthcare’s short-stay residents were re-hospitalized after a nursing home admission. 46.4% of Symphony Evanston Healthcare’s short-residents were successfully discharged to the community. This percentage was lower than the 51.5% for the Illinois average and the 55% average nationally. 80.9% of Symphony Evanston Healthcare’s short-stay residents were assessed and given the appropriate seasonal influenza vaccine. This percentage was better than the Illinois average of 75.1% and slightly better than the national average of 80.1% in this category.

23.5% of Symphony Evanston Healthcare’s long-stay residents whose ability to move independently worsened. This percentage was slightly higher than both the Illinois and national averages in this category. 7% of Symphony Evanston Healthcare’s long-stay high-risk residents developed pressure ulcers while the Illinois average was 6.3% of long-stay high-risk residents with pressure ulcers. 97% of Symphony Evanston Healthcare’s long-stay residents were assessed and given the appropriate pneumococcal vaccine. This percentage was higher than the Illinois average of 99.1% and the U.S. average of 93.4%.

Symphony Evanston Healthcare has not received any federal fines in the last 3 years. It is possible that Illinois may have imposed a penalty under state law, but none are listed. To search for the Illinois state penalties, there is a separate website that would allow for an independent viewing of any such fines.

1Vital Statistics
Number of Beds:158 certified bedsinformation

Beds in the nursing home that have been approved by the federal government to participate in Medicare or Medicaid.

Accepts:Medicare and Medicaidinformation

Shows if the nursing home participates in the Medicare, Medicaid, or both.

2Key Ratings
Star Rating Summary
Overall Ratinginformation

Medicare assigns the overall star rating based on a nursing homes's performance on 3 separate measures: Health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. Each of these domains have their own star ratings, with more stars meaning better quality of care

Five StarsMuch Above Average
Health Inspectioninformation

Medicare assigns the star rating based on a nursing home's weighted score from recent health inspections. More stars means fewer health risks

Three StarsAverage
Staffinginformation

Medicare assigns the star rating based on the nursing home's staffing hours for Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practice Nurses (LPNs), Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs), and Nurse aides. More stars means a better level of staffing per nursing home resident

Four StarsAbove Average
RN StaffingFour StarsAbove Average
Quality Measuresinformation

Medicare assigns the star rating based on data from a select set of clinical data measures. More stars means better quality of care

Five StarsMuch Above Average
3Key Short Stay Statistics
DescriptionSymphony Evanston HealthcareIllinois
Average
Percent of short-stay residents who self-report moderate to severe pain
Lower percentages are better.
1.9%10.2%
Percentage of SNF residents with pressure ulcers that are new or worsened
Lower percentages are better.
1.2%Not Available
Percent of short-stay residents assessed and given, appropriately, the seasonal influenza vaccine
Higher percentages are better.
69.7%72.8%
Percent of short-stay residents assessed and given, appropriately, the pneumococcal vaccine
Higher percentages are better.
86.4%74.7%
Percentage of short-stay residents who got antipsychotic medication for the first time
Lower percentages are better.
1.2%2.1%
4Key Long Stay Statistics
DescriptionSymphony Evanston HealthcareIllinois
Average
Percent of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury
Lower percentages are better.
4.9%3.3%
Percent of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection
Lower percentages are better.
2.1%3.1%
Percent of long-stay residents who self-report moderate to severe pain
Lower percentages are better.
5.3%4.9%
Percent of long-stay high-risk residents with pressure ulcers
Lower percentages are better.
6.6%7.6%
Percent of long-stay low-risk residents who lose control of their bowels or bladder
Lower percentages are better.
62.8%46.1%
Percent of long-stay residents who have or had a catheter inserted and left in their bladder
Lower percentages are better.
0.7%2.4%
Percent of long-stay residents who were physically restrained
Lower percentages are better.
0.0%0.3%
Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to move independently worsened
Lower percentages are better.
15.1%16.5%
Percent of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased
Lower percentages are better.
16.5%13.8%
Percent of long-stay residents who lose too much weight
Lower percentages are better.
10.7%6.3%
Percent of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms
Lower percentages are better.
4.3%19.2%
Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antianxiety or hypnotic medication
Lower percentages are better.
17.7%20.2%
Percent of long-stay residents assessed and given, appropriately, the seasonal influenza vaccine
Higher percentages are better.
93.7%92.9%
Percent of long-stay residents assessed and given, appropriately, the pneumococcal vaccine
Higher percentages are better.
95.1%89.7%
Percent of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication
Lower percentages are better.
20.6%18.8%
5Inspection Summary

Date of standard health inspection:07/13/2018
Total number of health deficiencies:10
Average number of health deficiencies in Illinois:10.6

Client Reviews
★★★★★
“We were devastated when our 31 year-old son was killed by a negligent driver. Kreisman Law Offices did everything to help us through this very difficult time, including coming out to the house several times which was a comfort. My wife and I were extremely pleased with Mr. Kreisman’s compassion and care for this very tragic and troubling time.” C.B.
★★★★★
“Bob Kreisman did everything possible in handling the trial of this case. It was devastating that I traumatically lost my leg above the knee in this truck accident. However, it was not an easy case to win. His staff was so prepared for the trial that it was not surprising that the settlement offers continued to rise until we finally accepted the multi-million settlement while the jury was still deciding the case. My wife and I were delighted that we could secure our future with this settlement. We thank Mr. Kreisman and his incredible staff for working so hard for our benefit.” T.P.
★★★★★
“My mother died because doctors dropped the ball. I called Robert Kreisman and he immediately set up an appointment for my entire family. We met at his offices and I was very comfortable that he would do the best for my dad and my brothers. He spent hours with all of us in preparing for depositions and he hired top notch experts, all of which contributed to an incredible settlement before trial. I know that he is dedicated to his cases and particularly to the people he works for and the people who work with him. He continues to be generous in contributing annually to my mother’s memory and to make known to the public the signs and symptoms of brain tumors.” V.S.
★★★★★
“My dad was ignored and mistreated at the nursing home that we placed him in. It didn’t take long for us to realize that we made a big mistake, particularly after my dad developed these terrible bedsores. We transferred him as we were contacting Mr. Kreisman. He was referred to us by a lawyer we have known for a long time and respect his opinion. Mr. Kreisman and his staff worked tirelessly to resolve this case. We were fortunate to have his services and will recommend him to anyone.” T.J.