A recent analysis of 43 peer-reviewed comparative studies of long-term care facilities confirms that not-for-profit facilities have a considerable advantage in almost every dimension of care.
When for-profit corporations deliver long-term residential care, public health care costs and private spending on health care both increase. Patient health is worse, staff turnover increases and patients and families are less satisfied
| Not-for-profit | For-profit | |
| Better physical plant and environment | ||
| Room maintenance | ||
| Physical plant maintenance | ||
| Food | ||
| Patient control of environment | ||
| Good staffing practices | ||
| Staff/patient ratio | ||
| Skill mix | ||
| Wages | ||
| Benefits | ||
| Staff involvement in care plans | ||
| Low turnover rates/continuity of staff | ||
| Patient care | ||
| Use of advanced directives (living wills, do-not-resuscitate orders) | ||
| Pain management programs | ||
| Specialized hospice programs | ||
| Use of anti-psychotic drugs | ||
| Low level of citations for deficiencies | ||
| Patient health | ||
| Fewest admissions to hospitals for: | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| same | same |
| same | same |
| same | same |
| same | same |
| Least use of restraints | ||
| Least incidence of infection | ||
| Hospitalization rates | same | same |
| Most physician involvement | ||
| Most expenditures | ||
| Patient per day | ||
| Staffing | ||
| Use of practical nurses | ||
| Use of physicians | ||
| Wages and benefits | ||
| Skilled staff mix | ||
| Staff training | ||
| Nursing care | ||
| Administration |
Source: Dr. Michael M. Rachlis, “The Hidden Costs of Privatization: An International Comparison of Community and Continuing Care” in Without Foundation, a joint project of the Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives - BC, the British Columbia Government Employees Union, the British Columbia Nurses Union, and CUPEs Hospital Employees Union, November 2000.