"From a consumer viewpoint, it's not stringent enough," said Alice H. Hedt, executive director of the National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform. "It's basically taking information already available on Medicare's Nursing Home Compare Web site and pulling it into an easier system for consumers to use, and that is a good thing."

Shamokin Area Community Hospital's 15-bed skilled nursing facility got rave reviews, with five stars for health inspections, staffing and quality measures.

"It's a reflection on the job the staff do," hospital President and CEO Thomas Harlow said.

While the new rating system provides a "good indication" to patients and families on how a facility is managed, he said, "It's not an exact science."

Pleased with the nursing home's top rating, Harlow said there is always room for improvement and the facility will not rest on its laurels.

"Reducing infections is clearly and area of emphasis," he said.

Other area nursing homes that received the lowest overall ranking of one out of five stars included Manor at Penn Village in Selinsgrove; Riverwoods and Buffalo Valley Lutheran Village, both in Lewisburg.

n Additional reporting by The Associated Press.