Overemphasizing standardization within a nursing home chain can actually have a negative impact on resident care, a new study finds.

Because of their size and scale, chains benefit from their ability to standardize administrative processes, but too much standardizing of this type has negative consequences. Chains must balance administrative efficiency with the local needs of the individual chain-owned facilities to optimize resident care, researchers from the University of Michigan School of Public Health concluded.

Studies have shown that chain-owned nursing homes generally deliver lower quality care compared with nonprofit and singly-owned nursing homes, the researchers noted.
To see an account from the University of Michigan, go to http://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/releases/story.php?id=5856.