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OKLAHOMA CITY - Gov. Brad Henry today unveiled an innovative new tool to help Oklahoma consumers make wiser choices when they are looking for long-term care facilities for themselves or their loved ones.

With a click of the mouse, consumers can visit a new Web site, www.oknursinghomeratings.com, to access current information about nursing facilities that contract with the state's SoonerCare (Medicaid) program. Called Focus on Excellence, the program is designed to encourage quality improvements in long-term care services through public accountability.

''Selecting a nursing home for a loved one is a critical and often emotional decision for Oklahoma families,'' Gov. Henry said. ''We're trying to make the decision process a little less difficult by giving consumers easy access to detailed information about long-term care facilities. This program is also encouraging nursing homes to go the extra mile to provide more and even better services to their residents.''

Nursing facilities voluntarily participate in the program to earn financial bonuses from the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) for their performance on 10 rating factors. The Web site also provides information about each of the rating factors that include categories such as quality of care; employee, resident and family satisfaction; and compliance with state and federal requirements.

The OHCA contracted with a national health care data management firm, My InnerView Inc., to provide independent validation of each nursing home's performance under the program. Using this information, the facilities are awarded a ''star rating'' based on their scores on these factors with one star being the lowest and five the highest.

''An average 70 percent of nursing facility residents in Oklahoma have their care paid for through the SoonerCare program,'' said OHCA CEO Mike Fogarty. ''The program is designed to drive measurable improvements in the quality of life, care and services for these Oklahomans. But at the same time, it allows the facilities to set and meet performance improvement targets and see how they compare with other facilities in the state.''

Fogarty noted that the program assures state leaders and taxpayers that funds spent on nursing home care distinguish among facilities based on their performance at the same time it provides information for consumers. The program carries out a provision enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature as part of the Oklahoma's Medicaid Reform Act of 2006.

Initially, 265 facilities, or 85 percent of the nursing facilities in the state, signed up for the program. Of that number, 133 facilities received from two to 10 additional bonus points for performing well on the 10 quality measures. As of March 31, 24 facilities had earned the top rating of five stars.

Nursing facilities are also able to post additional information, such as special services, activities or therapies they offer to the site. Long-term care facilities that are not contracted with the SoonerCare program are eligible to participate in the program rating system but are not eligible for the financial incentives.

The Web site also features a quick search option that provides a list of all nursing homes. Searches can be made by city and zip code or rating factor criteria.