Laguna Honda Hospital Secures a Coveted Five-star Quality Rating From Regulatory Agency, the Highest Possible Rating for a Healthcare Facility

SAN FRANCISCO – The Department of Public Health announces that Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center (Laguna Honda) secured a five-star quality rating from the federal regulatory agency, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), ranking it as a top-tier skilled nursing facility nationwide.

Laguna Honda’s achievement of five stars is a testament to the quality of care provided. Specifically, Laguna Honda had a very successful annual survey this past fall where regulators reviewed in detail resident care and safety, including completing interviews with residents and directly observing resident care. In addition, Laguna Honda performed very well on key metrics of resident care, supporting resident behaviors, healing wounds, preventing falls, and supporting safe discharges to lower levels of care.

“We are thrilled to receive this recognition for excellence in skilled nursing care from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services,” said Daniel Tsai, Director of Health for the City and County of San Francisco. “We are proud to meet the highest national standards of care and to deliver top-quality care to those with public insurance. Today makes clear that we can be a safety net institution and and the provider of choice for San Francisco. I celebrate the dedication of the staff at Laguna Honda whose tireless commitment to their residents and patients resulted in this five-star quality rating, and to everyone who receives care at Laguna Honda.”

For more than 150 years, Laguna Honda has been a pillar of San Francisco’s healthcare system, caring for those most in need and providing critical healthcare. Representing more than 30% of all skilled nursing beds in San Francisco, Laguna Honda represents a significant and extensive commitment by the City and County of San Francisco to publicly fund skilled nursing care for those with limited means.

Today, Laguna Honda treats a wide range of medical conditions, including complex and chronic illnesses, neurological and orthopedic disabilities, dementia, and HIV/AIDS.

Laguna Honda is uniquely organized into 13 specialized nursing and rehabilitation programs with each program serving approximately 50 residents, allowing for resident-centered and individualized care. Programs draw upon the expertise of practitioners in multiple fields of healthcare, including in-house physician specialists who are on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; nurses and nursing assistants; social workers; activity therapists; dietitians; occupational therapists; physical therapists; speech pathologists; neuropsychologists; psychiatrists; pharmacists and others.

Specialized programs at Laguna Honda include the following:

• A safe and comfortable environment for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias
• Care that combines medical and social support for people coping with the effects of complex or chronic conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury or degenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis
• Rehabilitative services that include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and audiology
• Monolingual care in Spanish and Chinese
• Positive care providing HIV/AIDS skilled nursing service
• Palliative care
• Restorative care to help increase mobility, joint strength, and range of motion

“I express my deep admiration for the staff of Laguna Honda who worked to successfully transform Laguna Honda into a top tier skilled nursing facility” said Roland Pickens, Director of the San Francisco Health Network. “As a large and publicly funded skilled nursing facility, we are highly scrutinized. We welcome this attention and are confident we can continue to live up to the highest standards of care. I also thank our union partners, advocates, and local, federal, and state partners for coming together to ensure San Francisco operates a world class skilled nursing facility.”

The five-star rating shows that Laguna Honda, within the first year of securing full CMS recertification, has put in places the systems, people, and protocols to sustain the many positive changes. This has included partnering with regulatory exports for “mock” surveys and internal daily observations so that we are quickly identifying any potential challenges. It has also included a robust quality improvement program with extensive data tracking and direct involvement of frontline staff. Laguna Honda had a two-star rating when the facility lost its certification in 2022.

“I am extremely proud of Laguna Honda and the recognition from regulators of the quality of care provided everyday here by our staff,” said Diltar Sidhu, Nursing Home Administrator and Chief Executive Officer for Laguna Honda Hospital “This prestigious recognition of a 5-star rating by CMS reflects our unwavering commitment to delivering high quality compassionate care to our residents and our community. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to our dedicated staff, residents, families, and partners who made this achievement possible. We remain focused on continuous improvement, transparency, and ensuring the well-being of every individual we serve.”

"The Health Commission celebrates the incredible achievement of LHH earning 5 stars from CMS," said Tessie Guillermo, Health Commission Vice President and Chair of the Laguna Honda Hospital Joint Conference Committee. "Over the past several years, the Commission has witnessed the incredible work of Laguna Honda staff and leaders in their effort to create the highest standards of care for Laguna Honda residents and to ensure all San Franciscans have access to quality skilled nursing and rehabilitation services."

CMS Quality Rating

The CMS five-star quality rating is a comprehensive review of a facility’s performance and provides

consumers, including caregivers, families, and prospective residents, with publicly available information to find the best skilled nursing facilities nationwide. The CMS five-star ratings are publicly available at www.medicare.gov/care-compare and are updated quarterly.

Laguna Honda Admissions

Laguna Honda is open to admissions for San Francsico residents with skilled nursing and acute rehabilitation needs. We encourage anyone interested in Laguna Honda for their loved ones or themselves to learn more at www.sf.gov/LagunaHonda and to take a virtual tour of our campus.

About Laguna Honda Hospital

Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center is a general acute care hospital, providing acute medical and rehabilitation services and skilled nursing services. Beyond our picturesque campus, nestled in the foothills of Twin Peaks, we have a rich history of caring for San Franciscans, dating back to 1866, and a strong community of residents, resident families, and staff.

Laguna Honda is part of the San Francisco Health Network of the San Francisco Department of Public Health, a community of top-rated clinics, hospitals and programs that connects San Franciscans to quality health care. We provide world-class care near you, for you, regardless of immigration status or lack of insurance. Our Network provides primary care and many other health services in multiple locations throughout the City.

Learn more about Laguna Honda at sf.gov/LagunaHonda.