Ohio Nursing Home Quality Navigator wins national award for data innovation

COLUMBUS, Ohio - For their combined work on the Ohio Nursing Home Quality Navigator, the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) and the Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS) have been recognized on the national stage, winning the State IT Recognition Award for Data Management & Analytics from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO).

NASCIO annually recognizes the innovative use of information technology in state government to address critical business problems, improve business processes, and elevate the citizen experience. The award, presented to ODA and DAS at a conference this week, spotlights Ohio's leadership in leveraging cutting-edge technology to advance healthcare transparency and empower its citizens.

The now-award-winning Nursing Home Quality Navigator, launched earlier this year by Governor Mike DeWine and ODA Director Ursel J. McElroy, revolutionizes how Ohioans access information about nursing homes. This state-of-the-art digital tool consolidates complex data into an intuitive online platform, equipping residents with detailed information about nursing homes across Ohio in one convenient digital location.

"We are thrilled to receive this award from NASCIO, which showcases the hard work that the teams at ODA and DAS contributed to this project," said Director McElroy. "The Navigator's goal was to ensure that all Ohioans have access to accurate, up-to-date information about nursing homes in their state, and with tremendous collaboration between ODA and DAS, we achieved that goal. Ohioans now have better data in their hands than ever, helping them make the most-informed choice for their long-term care."

The Navigator is a result of the work of the Ohio Governor's Nursing Home Quality & Accountability Task Force - a group of leading experts in aging, long-term care, and other disciplines, as well as long-term care consumers and advocates themselves, appointed by Governor DeWine in February 2023 to study opportunities to improve nursing home care throughout the state.

Developing a public-facing dashboard with detailed data and information on nursing home quality was among the immediate action steps identified in the Task Force's Recommendations Report, which was submitted to Governor DeWine in May 2023.

Using the Navigator, Ohioans can find nursing homes in their area by searching for their zip code or city name, generating a map of that area and highlighting the nursing homes within a range of anywhere from five to 100 miles.

Data available for each facility includes its number of beds, its Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Five-Star Quality Rating, resident and family satisfaction survey scores, staffing data, and other information provided by the facility, such as whether it allows pets, alcohol, or smoking, any religious affiliation, and what special care services it might offer.

The Navigator also allows for a direct comparison between nursing homes, with users being able to select up to two facilities (mobile version) or up to three facilities (desktop/tablet version) and compare their information side-by-side.

The Navigator was developed by DAS' InnovateOhio Platform (IOP), at the direction of the Governor's Office and ODA, and with further support from the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Department of Medicaid.

"Our InnovateOhio Platform team moved quickly in coordination with our agency partners using the state's analytics tools to complete the development work in just nine weeks," said DAS Director Kathleen C. Madden. "The Navigator is helping Ohioans make important, informed choices about nursing home care, and it is an excellent example of how we can make smart use of technology to better serve Ohioans."

Since going live, the Navigator has been viewed nearly 100,000 times. It ranked as the most-visited site on the ODA website for months afterward and remains among the top 10 most-visited pages on the department's website today.

ODA and DAS are committed to continually enhancing this award-winning platform. In August and September, ODA toured six different locations in Ohio as part of its Assisted Living Feedback Forums to solicit opinions from assisted living residents and their loved ones as well as facility staff and administrators. One of the key takeaways of the forums was the desire for assisted living facilities to also be included alongside nursing homes on the Navigator.

With the platform's success, and armed with this additional feedback from Ohioans across the state, ODA and DAS are currently working together on a "Version 2.0" of the Navigator, which will add information about assisted living facilities, among other improvements. This update will be released in the coming months.

About ODA - The Ohio Department of Aging serves and advocates for the needs of Ohioans age 60 and older, as well as their families, caregivers and communities. Programs include home and community based long-term supports and services, as well as initiatives to promote health and wellness throughout the lifespan. Visit aging.ohio.gov.

About DAS - The Ohio Department of Administrative Services is the engine of state government, providing innovative solutions and supporting the efficient operation of state agencies, boards, and commissions. Learn more at DAS.Ohio.gov.

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