Thirty-four senior living and care organizations have been recognized as winners in NRC Health’s first Customer Approved Awards and Employee Approved Awards, the healthcare consumer data and content company announced Monday. The awards recognize organizations from across the country for “creating an outstanding experience for their customers and employees.”

Elkhorn, NE-based Vetter Senior Living topped the Employee Approved Award category, for which ratings were gathered from staff members of assisted living communities and skilled nursing facilities. Sioux Falls, SD-based Avera topped the Customer Approved Award category, for which ratings came from family members and residents across independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing settings.

Six organizations appear on both lists: American Medical Facilities Management, Berkshire Healthcare, Diversicare Healthcare Services, Kisco Senior Living, Senior Living Residences and Vetter Senior Living.

“We’ve worked hard to ensure that our residents and their families feel safe, valued and cared for, and a large part of that has been the unwavering compassion and dedication of our team members,” said Glenn Van Ekeren, president at Vetter Health Services, which provides management services to Vetter Senior Living communities. “Without their skills and incredible empathy, we would not have earned an award in either of these categories.”

Both awards relied on the organizational net promoter score, a measure of satisfaction and a proxy for loyalty in the industry. NRC said that the scoring methodology accounted for inherent differences in ratings across levels of care. Organizations with fewer than 10 eligible facilities were omitted.

“This year’s winning organizations are great examples of the success that comes from cultivating consistent customer and employee experiences,” Stephanie Kolbo, vice president of business development for NRC Health, said in a statement. “As survey results show, their efforts have not gone unnoticed by residents, family members and employees.”

Employee Approved Award winners

  1. Vetter Senior Living, Elkhorn, NE*
  2. American Medical Facilities Management, Charleston, WV*
  3. Kisco Senior Living, Carlsbad, CA*
  4. Opis Senior Services Group, Tampa, FL
  5. Partners of Ensign Services, Mission Viego, CA
  6. Senior Star, Tulsa, OK
  7. Kingston HealthCare Company, Toledo, OH
  8. Berkshire Healthcare, Pittsfield, MA*
  9. Ethica Health, Gray, GA
  10. Central Management Company, Winnfield, LA
  11. Diversicare Healthcare Services, Brentwood, TN*
  12. Edgewood Healthcare, Fargo, ND
  13. Concepts in Community Living, Clackamas, OR
  14. Senior Living Residences, Boston*
  15. Dial Retirement Communities, Omaha, NE
  16. Primrose Retirement Communities, Aberdeen, SD
  17. Legend Senior Living, Wichita, KS
  18. The Goodman Group, Chaska, MN
  19. Volunteers of America, Alexandria, VA
  20. Spring Hills, Edison, NJ

Customer Approved Award winners

  1. Avera, Sioux Falls, SD
  2. National HealthCare Corp., Murfreesboro, TN
  3. Trinity Health Senior Communities, Livonia, MI
  4. Lutheran SeniorLife, Mars, PA
  5. Gulf Coast Health Care, Pensacola, FL
  6. Ascension, St. Louis
  7. American Medical Facilities Management, Charleston, WV*
  8. Vetter Senior Living, Elkhorn, NE*
  9. Schonberg Care, Metairie, LA
  10. Medicalodges, Coffeyville, KS
  11. Solaris, Bonita Springs, FL
  12. Americare Senior Living, Sikeston, MO
  13. HCR ManorCare (part of ProMedica), Toledo, OH
  14. Berkshire Healthcare, Pittsfield, MA*
  15. Kisco Senior Living, Carlsbad, CA*
  16. Providence Health & Services, Renton, WA
  17. Senior Living Residences, Boston*
  18. Diversicare Healthcare Services, Brentwood, TN*
  19. Atrium Centers, Columbus, OH
  20. Lutheran Services Carolinas, Salisbury, NC

* Indicates the organizations that won both Employee Approved and the Customer Approved awards.