Correction: The original version of this article had the incorrect year The Timbers first opened. It has been corrected below.

Any doubts leaders may have had about the quality of care the staff of The Timbers of Cass County provides to residents have dissipated, thanks to the high marks the nursing home recently received from “U.S. News & World Report.”

The Dowagiac medical care facility was rated a “Top Performing” nursing home by the national publication, which released its rankings of nursing facilities throughout the country. The rating is given to nursing homes that score a 4.5 or higher through the criteria “U.S. News” staff use to evaluate such facilities — including health inspections and complaints, staffing, and medical care quality measures — with The Timbers scoring a 4.8 out of 5.

The Timbers was one of four facilities owned and operated by Atrium Centers to receive the “Top Performing” distinction, and was the only one in Berrien and Cass counties to do so.

“It’s pretty exciting,” said Don Mass, administrator of The Timbers. “Only 15 percent of nursing homes in the country were rated as ‘Top Performing.’”

Mass and other leaders in the company learned of the results last month, he said.

The rating is the latest distinction the 108-bed facility has received since it opened in 2010 inside the former site of the Dowagiac Nursing Home. The American Heath Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living gave the facility its bronze level recognition in 2014, for its staff’s efforts to prevent slips and falls from residents, and has continually received a five-star rating from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Mass said these distinctions are, first and foremost, a reflection of the effort the staff pours into residents’ care, who treat them like members of their own families.

The administrator, who took over leadership of The Timbers in May, said it is not just the facility’s nursing staff who keep The Timbers operating in top shape, but also the nutritionists who ensure the residents are eating well, the activities staff who give them fun things to do, social services who keep them connected with loved ones and the maintenance staff who ensure their rooms are in working order.

“We all depend on each other,” Mass said. “Not a single part of the equation is optional. Everyone is essential.”

The Timbers staff already keeps a close eye on a lot of the same standards that the “U.S. News” team uses for its evaluation, including tracking the infection rates, falls, vaccinations and other metrics for the quality of resident care, Mass said. Members from each department also meet once a week to ensure that everyone remains on the same page.

While the primary focus will always be on the wellbeing of residents, Timbers leaders also pour a lot of effort into caring for the staff, as “happy employees will make happy residents,” Mass said.

In spite of its reputation, many are still surprised to see a facility with the quality of facilities as The Timbers in a smaller community like Dowagiac, Mass said. Ambulance crews who have never visited before often ask, “wow, you have this in Dowagiac,” Mass said.

The facility plans to host a gathering in the coming weeks with the staff to celebrate the latest achievement, which Mass said he hopes is a source of pride for the employees for years to come.

“There are a lot of quality people here, which is one of the reasons I’m happy to be here and excited about this recognition,” Mass said.

The Timbers of Cass County is located at 55432 Colby St. For more info, people may call the facility at (269) 782-7828.