February 26, 2026

Licking Memorial Home Care Services has been named by U.S. News & World Report as High Performing for Home Health, the highest award that a home healthcare agency can earn as part of U.S. News’ Best Home Health ratings.  The inaugural evaluation provides a data-backed digital resource for millions of Americans seeking high-quality healthcare in the comfort of their own homes following a hospital stay or illness.
 
As the demand for post-acute care continues to rise, U.S. News evaluated over 12,000 Medicare-certified home health agencies across the country.  Licking Memorial Home Health Services is among the 1,319 agencies that earned the Best Home Health distinction for exceeding expectations in care quality and patient experience.  Families often must make crucial post-acute care decisions during stressful times and on very short notice.  The new ratings are intended to serve as a helpful starting point in the decision-making process, offering a clear view of agencies that have demonstrated a track record of positive patient outcomes and satisfied consumers.
 
“For patients recovering from surgery or managing a chronic condition, the quality of care they receive at home can be the difference between a successful recovery and a costly re-hospitalization,” said Licking Memorial Health Systems President & CEO Rob Montagnese.  “We are proud to be among the best in the nation at providing quality home care as part of our mission to improve the health of the community.”
 
The organizations that were rated as high performing in the U.S. News Best Home Health evaluation were found to exceed national averages for treatment start times, better mobility, and daily independence for patients.  Best Home Health agencies began care on time for 99 percent of patients, surpassing the national average of 94 percent.  Prompt initiation of care assists patients to manage their transition from hospital to home.
 
Additionally, 93 percent of patients who received care from top-rated agencies saw an improvement in walking and movement, compared to just 83 percent nationwide.  Recovering mobility that may have been lost during a hospitalization is often an important goal of home health.
 
Home health patients treated by top-rated agencies were also more likely than patients nationwide to improve at getting out of bed, bathing themselves, and taking their medicines correctly.  Improvement in these activities of daily living are important signs of a patient's recovery.
 
Since 1991, Licking Memorial Hospital Home Care Services has been providing comprehensive home care with the goal of enabling individuals in Licking County to remain or return home while receiving the highest level of skilled professional care.  Highly skilled and dependable staff members possess many years of experience, the ability to assist with the decision-making process, and represent a wide variety of disciplines.