NORTH NEWTON, Kan. – Two of Bluestem Communities’ long-term care campuses – Kidron Bethel Village in North Newton and Schowalter Villa in Hesston – have been recognized on the Best Nursing Homes list for 2027 by U.S. News & World Report. Both were recognized as “High Performing” – the highest possible achievement – placing them in the top 18 percent of skilled nursing communities nationally.
Kidron Bethel Village was recognized for both short-term rehabilitation and long-term care, while Schowalter Villa was recognized for long-term care.
The annual Best Nursing Homes ratings, now in its 16th year, assists prospective residents and their families in making informed decisions in consultation with their medical professionals about where to receive short-term or long-term care.
“Receiving these honors speaks to the extraordinary people who serve residents each day at Kidron Bethel Village and Schowalter Villa,” said James Krehbiel, Bluestem Communities President and CEO. “The teams led by Jennifer Traglia and Jeff Ritcha embody Bluestem Communities’ mission through meaningful relationships, exceptional service and steadfast commitment to resident well-being.”
For the 2027 rankings, U.S. News rated more than 14,000 nursing homes on staffing, patients’ health outcomes and results of government-conducted health and safety outcomes. To calculate the Best Nursing Homes ratings, U.S. News evaluated each organization’s performance using a variety of data obtained from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), scientific literature review, discussions with industry experts and statistical modeling.
The ratings report that residents at the best communities for long-term care “experience approximately 21 percent fewer hospital readmissions compared to those in other facilities.” Likewise, residents at the best communities for short-term rehabilitation “have a 19 percent lower rate of emergency room visits compared to the national average.”
Kidron Bethel Village and Schowalter Villa are both part of Bluestem Communities, a non-profit organization of life plan communities offering several living and care options for seniors, including independent living, assisted living, health care, memory care and PACE (Programs for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) in south central Kansas.
Visit health.usnews.com/best-nursing-homes for more about the U.S. News & World Report ratings.
