The awards were based on measures set by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), according to Kathleen Courson, administrator for home health care business.

Darling’s Home Care was one of six PHA-member home health providers in the state to be recognized by HEALTHCAREfirst for continuously providing quality care as measured by customer satisfaction, Courson said. PHA is the Pennsylvania Homecare Association. HEALTHCAREfirst is a vendor that helps home health and hospice agencies simplify compliance and documentation requirements.

Darling’s was also among 38 PHA-member organizations named to the HomeCare Elite List of Highest Quality Providers, Courson said.

HomeCare Elite has just released its annual compilation of the highest quality home health care providers in the United States, according to Courson. This review from ABILITY Network and DecisionHealth recognizes the top 25 percent of agencies in home health performance measures.

Photos submitted to the Times Observer From left are Nicki Berdine, Office & Marketing Manager, and Chris Darling, owner, during the recent senior expo. This year’s theme was “Darling’s treats you like royalty.”

Courson called the recognition an honor and attributed the recognition to the agency staff.

“Being selected as HHCAHPS Honors recipients for the second year in a row is a great honor and blessing,” Courson said.”

“I often get choked up when I talk about the level of compassion and care that our staff provides,” said agency owner Chris Darling. “I can’t tell you the number of times someone pulls me aside and tells me about the positive experiences and true care they received from our team. It’s not something that you can teach a person, it’s how they (the staff) live and how they treat others. I am humbled by the efforts and examples each of our home care staff lives every day. It’s an honor to receive this recognition, it truly showcases their work.”

“I have a progressive, educated, experienced therapy team that is not afraid to think outside the box and nurses that are often described as compassionate, caring and ‘the best'”, Courson said. “These awards are indisputable measures that patients in rural Pa. are receiving top-notch, big-city care and I could not be more proud of the team here at Darling’s Home Care.”

“Access to care is extremely concerning in rural America, we are no stranger to professional staffing shortages, alarming threats of cuts to Medicare Home Health benefit and regulatory overhaul is frightening to all independent agencies.,” Courson said. “It is possible to create a state of the art program, employ professionals that are at the top of their game, have phenomenal, award-winning results and maintain independence in rural Pennsylvania. This community gave many of us our roots and we are beyond proud to serve it and call it home.”

“It is harder to survive now as a small community based non-profit agency,” said Community Nursing Services of North East Executive Director Barbara Moore. “We realize that in the age of mergers and health care conglomerates that one of the only ways to continue on is truly by treating each patient with the utmost respect and dignity. ‘Treating them like they are your own family’ has to be more than just a catch phrase.”

“Shortly after moving back to the area, Darling’s Home Care opened their doors and I joined them as their Speech Therapist,” Julie Goff said. “I had worked with large hospitals, home health agencies,

and Rehab Companies for nearly 30 years. I find it refreshing to work with a company that is so patient care driven. I’ve seen them grow from 4 to 20 plus staff members while continuing to keep patient care and communications at the forefront of all they do.”

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