Denali Center
1510 19th Avenue, Fairbanks AK 99701 · (907) 458-5100 · 87.33% estimated occupancy 1Updated: Aug 1, 2020 · By Sara Levinsohn
Denali Center is located in Fairbanks, Alaska. The city has 63,999 people. With an overall score of A-, this facility is one of the better nursing homes we assessed. We really can not say enough favorable things about this nursing home. This nursing home's strong profile was highlighted by its short-term care score, which is addressed in the next section.
Additional Details:
Accepts Medicare 1 :
Accepts Medicaid 1 : 90 Beds
CCRC :
Non profit - Corporation
Resident Council:
Family Council:
Medical Staff Hours Per Patient (2019)
Short-term Care Quality
One of the reasons this turned out to be a great nursing home is that it received an A+ short-term care grade. This is simply as good as it gets in this area. Our short-term care ratings are based on the facility's quantity of skilled skilled healthcare professionals. This means a wide range of nursing services, spanning from registered nurses to physical and speech therapists, as well as other types of therapy. This place excelled at the highest level in the two key staffing areas we looked at. It provided about 50% more care from registered nurses and physical therapists than a typical nursing home. The last measure we assessed in this area is the number of residents who eventually returned home from the facility. We found that it performed as well as just about any nursing home in Alaska in this area with 69.7 percent of its residents returning home. For most nursing homes, fewer than half of their short-stay residents are able to return home.
Nurse Quality
Another reason we rated this nursing home so highly is that it received an A+ nursing grade. This is simply as good as it gets in this category. When calculating a nursing home's nursing rating, we weigh the amount of time nurses spend with patients as well as the level of licensure of the nurses. This nursing home boasts a really impressive 6.5 hours of nursing care per patient daily, of which a significant portion was provided by registered nurses. This is one of the most highly trained levels of nurses. In addition to offering impressive levels of nursing care, this nursing home was also above average in each of the major quality-based metrics we looked at in this category. It performed well in terms of avoiding pressure ulcers and major falls.
Long-term Care Quality
This nursing home also was given a first-rate long-term care score. Indeed, this turned out to be its third strongest category grade. In that area, this facility received a grade of A-. When facilities receive this type of score in long-term care it is usually a good sign for patient care and suggests that the place is well-staffed with nurses aids. On top of looking at the well above average volume of care provided by nurses and other staff at this facility, we also were happy with the nursing home's vaccination data. For example, this facility gave the pneumonia vaccine to 97.70992 percent of its residents, which is an impressive figure. Finally, this place was able to limit hospitalizations. In fact, it had less than one hospitalization per one thousand long-term resident days, which is a remarkably low number.
Facility Inspections
In the last category we looked at, we found that this facility received a solid inspection report this year as well, with few major dings from government inspectors. It received a decent grade in our inspection category with a score of B. This facility really didn't have any major weak links. Inspection ratings account for several factors found on a facility's inspection report. One key criteria we rely on is the number and severity of deficiencies. Places with better grades in this category usually have very few severe deficiencies. While this nursing home had a few minor dings on its government inspection report, it had no severe deficiencies. Severe deficiencies are labeled as categories G, H, I, J, K and L. This means the inspectors didn't deem any of the deficiencies on this facility's report to pose an imminent threat to patient health or safety. Finally, this facility had no substantiated complaints this year from residents, which is an excellent sign.
Overall Rating Over Time
Compared to national and state averages across all facilities.
Denali Center Quality Metrics
Minimizes Pressure Ulcers
This indicates the percent of patients that have had a pressure ulcer. Pressure ulcers are considered to be a barometer of the quality of nursing care . Pressure ulcers, which are also called bed sores, are routinely the result of residents not being moved frequently enough.
Percent of Patients with Pressure Ulcers
Lower is Better
Minimizes Serious Falls
This indicates the percent of residents that sustained a major fall. Falls resulting in serious injury are considered by many in the nursing home industry to be a measure of the quality of nursing care at a nursing home. Major falls are often the result of lower levels of patient supervision.
Percent of Patients with Serious Falls
Lower is Better
Minimizes Urinary Tract Infections
This indicates the percentage of residents who have had a urinary tract infection. Urinary tract infections are considered to be an indicator of nursing care . UTI's are routinely associated with a facility with worst hygiene practices. However, this metric can be skewed for some facilities due to varying reporting standards for these infections.
Percent of Patients with UTIs
Lower is Better
Appropriately Uses Anti-Psychotic Medication
This is the percent of patients prescribed antipsychotic medications. Antipsychotic medications are administered to residents for many conditions, such as cognitive disorders. Sadly, in limited situations, excessive reliance on these medications may mean that a facility is using these drugs to subdue residents.
Percent of Patients
Lower is Better
Appropriately Uses Anti-Anxiety Medication
This figure is an indication of the percent of long-term care patients who were prescribed antianxiety drugs. These drugs are prescribed to residents experiencing depression or anxiety.
Percent of Patients
Lower is Better
Managing Depression Among Residents
Measures the percent of long-term stay patients who are exhibiting symptoms of depression.
Percent of Patients
Lower is Better
Appropriate Vaccine Usage
This tells you the percent of residents who were given the flu and pneumonia vaccines. High vaccination rates should be the norm at this point.
Percent of Patients
Higher is Better
Residents Maintain Autonomy
This datapoint measures the percentage of long-term care patients who required increased assistance with activities of daily living over time. ADL's include activities such as getting dressed and eating.
Percentage of Patients
Lower is Better
Ability to Keep Residents Mobile
Measures the percentage of long-term stay patients that remained mobile levels.
Percentage of Residents
Higher is Better
Hospitalizations
This metric tracks the number of hospitalizations per 1,000 days of patient care.
Hospitalizations per 1,000 resident days
Lower is Better
Short-term Care: Rehospitalizations
This tells you the number of times residents are rehospitalized per 1,000 days of short-term patient care.
Percentage of Residents Rehospitalized
Lower is Better
Short-term Care: ER Visits
This tells you the number of times residents are sent to the emergency room per 1,000 days of short-term patient care. There is generally a correlation between having fewer emergency room visits and the overall quality of rehabilitation.
Percentage of Patients
Lower is Better
Short-term Care: Facilitates Functional Improvement
This tells you the percentage of short-term patients that experienced functional improvements, such as enhanced ability to perform activities of daily living.
Percentage of Resident
Higher is Better