Behind the Rankings: Uncovering What Makes a Nursing Home the Best with Zach Adams, Senior Health Data Engineer at U.S. News & World Report
What makes a nursing home one of the best? One in five U.S. nursing homes rated as “Best.” The 2025 evaluation features ratings of nearly 15,000 U.S. nursing homes. Behind those rankings that guide countless families in making life-changing decisions, there’s a blend of rigorous analysis, dedication, and a commitment to quality care. Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on that process and diving into the story of someone who helps shape these crucial decisions.
My guest is Zach Adams, a Senior Health Data Engineer at U.S. News & World Report. Zach has become a leading force, along with his team, behind the Best Nursing Homes, Best Senior Living ratings and more. His expertise in advanced statistical modeling and data analysis ensures these rankings are more than just numbers—they’re a lifeline for families navigating the complexities of healthcare. Zach’s academic background in public health and epidemiology, along with his passion for improving senior care, makes him the perfect guide through this complicated landscape.
In this episode, we’ll talk about what makes a nursing home great, how the data is captured, the differences between short-term and long-term care, and how families can use these ratings to find the best fit for their loved ones and much more. Zach also sheds light on broader trends, like the critical staffing challenges many communities face and the role of technology in shaping the future of care. Whether you’re seeking answers for today or inspiration for tomorrow, this conversation promises to be as insightful as it is empowering. Thank you so much for your insight, Zach! I'm looking forward to talking about Senior Living next time!
Learn more HERE: https://www.usnews.com/info/blogs/press-room/articles/2024-11-12/u-s-news-world-report-publishes-2025-best-nursing-homes-ratings
U.S. News & World Report's 2025 Best Nursing Homes ratings
Listen to our episode HERE.
About Zach Adams
Zach Adams is a Senior Health Data Engineer at U.S. News & World Report. He has worked with U.S. News since 2016, offering extensive experience in advanced statistical modeling and data analysis. Adams is an analyst on the U.S. News’ Best Hospitals rankings and Best Hospitals Procedures & Conditions ratings, and the lead analyst on U.S. News’ Best Nursing Homes and Best Senior Living ratings. His work helps patients, residents and families make more informed decisions about health care providers through publicly-reported quality measurement.
Adams holds a master’s degree in epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a bachelor’s degree in public health from Franklin & Marshall College.
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