PlainNursing
CMS Nursing Home Compare · August 2026

Northern Mahaska Specialty Care

2401 Crestview Drive, Oskaloosa, IA 52577

Northern Mahaska Specialty Care, a 79-bed non profit - corporation nursing facility in Oskaloosa, IA, holds a 2-star CMS overall rating - below the 3.0-star national average, ranking #265 of 385 rated homes in IA on CMS overall stars (with health+staffing+quality tie-breaks), with nurse staffing below the national norm. 1 inspection finding reached the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy level.

CMS combines health inspections, nurse-staffing levels, and clinical quality measures into the overall star rating, read the components below; they often tell a sharper story than the headline.

Phone: 6416733000

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2 / 5
Below average · CMS overall · nat'l 3.0
#265 of 385
In-state rank among rated IA homes
3.20
Well below average · nurse hrs/day · nat'l 3.86
10
Inspection findings · 1 serious

The verdict

Northern Mahaska Specialty Care, a 79-bed non profit - corporation nursing facility in Oskaloosa, IA, holds a 2-star CMS overall rating - below the 3.0-star national average, ranking #265 of 385 rated homes in IA on CMS overall stars (with health+staffing+quality tie-breaks), with nurse staffing below the national norm. 1 inspection finding reached the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy level.

2 / 5
CMS overall · national 3.0
#265 of 385
In-state rank among rated IA homes
3.20
Nurse hrs/resident-day · national 3.86
10
Inspection findings · 1 serious

CMS force-curves overall stars within each state; read health, staffing, and quality sub-ratings alongside the headline.

In-state ownership mix · peer inventory

How 387 IA nursing homes split by ownership sector

This facility is recorded as Non profit - Corporation. Sector buckets collapse CMS ownership_type into For-profit, Nonprofit, and Government, orthogonal to the RN/LPN/CNA hour bar below.

Health Inspection

2/5

Staffing

4/5

Quality Measures

3/5

Long-Stay Quality

4/5

Facility Information

Provider Number
165274
Ownership
Non profit - Corporation
Provider Type
Medicare and Medicaid
Beds
79
Residents
76
In Hospital
No
County
Mahaska
Last Inspection
Nov 24, 2025

Staffing Data

How the 3.20 total nursing hours per resident-day are staffed:

RN Hours
0.56 (nat'l avg: 0.69)
LPN Hours
0.57
CNA Hours
2.07
Total Nursing Hours
3.20 (nat'l avg: 3.86)
PT Hours
0.01
Nursing Turnover
31.3%
RN Turnover
20.0%

What the CMS Record Reveals About Northern Mahaska Specialty Care

According to CMS Nursing Home Compare, Northern Mahaska Specialty Care ranks #265 of 385 rated nursing homes in IA on overall stars (tie-broken by health+staffing+quality, then fewer fines). Northern Mahaska Specialty Care operates 79 certified beds in Oskaloosa, IA with approximately 76 residents currently in care, and carries a CMS overall rating of 2 out of 5 stars (health inspection 2★ · staffing 4★ · quality 3★).

The inspection file contains 10 deficiency records from recent surveys, of which 1 reached the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy threshold on the CMS scope-and-severity grid. CMS enforcement records show 1 penalty totaling $39K levied against this facility. Per resident day, this facility reports 3.20 total nursing hours (national average 3.86) and 0.56 RN hours.

Classified as "Non profit - Corporation" ownership and operating as a "Medicare and Medicaid" provider, Northern Mahaska Specialty Care falls into a category where comparative context matters. Reported nursing staff turnover at this facility is 31.3% (CMS payroll-based measure).

Why sub-scores and the CMS methodology matter

The overall score is a composite of three weighted sub-ratings published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: health inspection results, staffing levels, and quality measures. Because CMS caps the overall score at the health-inspection tier and then adjusts up or down based on staffing and quality, the sub-scores often tell a sharper story than the headline star count alone, a 3-star facility with weak inspection history reads differently from one held back by thin staffing.

National research consistently shows that ownership structure, staffing hours, and turnover are the three operational levers that correlate most strongly with resident outcomes, ratings and fines are lagging indicators of those upstream choices. The staffing metric in particular is the one most strongly tied to resident outcomes in peer-reviewed literature.

For families evaluating this facility, the CMS record should be read alongside a site visit, direct conversation with current residents and their families, and review of the state health department's most recent inspection report, the star rating is a starting point, not a verdict. All data on this page is sourced from CMS Provider Data and the Nursing Home Compare program; always verify the same record on Medicare.gov Care Compare and with the facility or your state survey agency before making placement decisions.

Deficiency History (10 most recent)

D - Isolated - Minimal harm Nov 24, 2025 Tag: 0726

Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.

Category: Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies

Corrected: Dec 1, 2025

D - Isolated - Minimal harm Nov 24, 2025 Tag: 0656

Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.

Category: Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

Corrected: Dec 1, 2025

E - Pattern - Minimal harm Nov 24, 2025 Tag: 0880

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Category: Infection Control Deficiencies

Corrected: Dec 1, 2025

E - Pattern - Minimal harm Nov 24, 2025 Tag: 0803

Ensure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident.

Category: Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies

Corrected: Dec 1, 2025

D - Isolated - Minimal harm Feb 26, 2025 Tag: 0609

Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.

Category: Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies

Corrected: Feb 27, 2025

J - Isolated - Jeopardy Jul 6, 2024 Tag: 0689

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Corrected: Jul 7, 2024

E - Pattern - Minimal harm Dec 21, 2023 Tag: 0584

Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.

Category: Resident Rights Deficiencies

Corrected: Dec 22, 2023

D - Isolated - Minimal harm Aug 30, 2023 Tag: 0689

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Corrected: Sep 20, 2023

D - Isolated - Minimal harm Aug 30, 2023 Tag: 0550

Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.

Category: Resident Rights Deficiencies

Corrected: Sep 20, 2023

E - Pattern - Minimal harm Aug 30, 2023 Tag: 0725

Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.

Category: Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies

Corrected: Sep 20, 2023

Quality Measures

Measure Type Score Used in Rating
Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased Long Stay 20.9% Yes
Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay 0.4% Yes
Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay 0.4% Yes
Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay 3.5% Yes
Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened Long Stay 22.2% Yes
Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay 1.1% Yes
Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay 16.6% Yes
Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication Short Stay 0.0% Yes
Percentage of long-stay residents who lose too much weight Long Stay 6.2% No
Percentage of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms Long Stay 0.4% No
Percentage of long-stay residents who were physically restrained Long Stay 0.0% No
Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine Long Stay 100.0% No
Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antianxiety or hypnotic medication Long Stay 16.9% No
Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine Long Stay 98.7% No
Percentage of long-stay residents with new or worsened bowel or bladder incontinence Long Stay 23.8% No
Percentage of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine Short Stay 98.1% No
Percentage of short-stay residents who were assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine Short Stay 91.4% No

Penalty History 1 penalties totaling $39K

Date Type Amount
Jul 6, 2024 Fine $39K

Nationwide facilities with similar scale or staffing

Two data-derived peer sets for Northern Mahaska Specialty Care, both outside IA so the neighborhoods are not the same-state geography list below.

What the CMS records show for Northern Mahaska Specialty Care

The health, staffing, and quality sub-ratings above often diverge from the CMS overall headline. Use those components and the inspection findings to read the full file, not the overall star alone.

  • The IA registry aggregates state averages and the highest-rated homes in this cohort. View IA registry
  • Peer homes near 79 beds show how CMS stars vary at a similar scale in IA. Compare a similar-size peer
  • CMS publishes separate fields for inspections, nurse staffing hours, and quality measures; the guide explains how each star is computed. How CMS ratings work

CMS refreshes Nursing Home Compare quarterly (current extract: August 2026). PlainNursing describes published records; it does not establish suitability, availability, admissions, or individual outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall CMS rating for Northern Mahaska Specialty Care?
Northern Mahaska Specialty Care has an overall CMS rating of 2 out of 5 stars. This rating combines health inspection results (2★), staffing levels (4★), and quality measures (3★).
Where does Northern Mahaska Specialty Care rank among nursing homes in IA?
According to CMS Nursing Home Compare overall stars (with health+staffing+quality tie-breaks, then fewer fines), Northern Mahaska Specialty Care ranks 265th among 385 rated nursing homes in IA (#265 of 385). CMS force-curves the overall star within each state, so this peer set is the honest comparison.
What are the staffing levels at Northern Mahaska Specialty Care?
Northern Mahaska Specialty Care reports 3.20 total nursing hours per resident day (national average: 3.86). RN hours are 0.56 per resident day (national average: 0.69). Nursing staff turnover is 31.3%.
How many beds does Northern Mahaska Specialty Care have?
Northern Mahaska Specialty Care has 79 certified beds with approximately 76 residents. The facility is located at 2401 Crestview Drive, Oskaloosa, IA 52577.
Does Northern Mahaska Specialty Care have any deficiencies on record?
Yes, Northern Mahaska Specialty Care has 10 deficiencies on record from recent inspections. Of these, 1 are classified as causing actual harm or jeopardy.
Has Northern Mahaska Specialty Care received any fines or penalties?
Yes, Northern Mahaska Specialty Care has received 1 penalties totaling $39K.
Who owns Northern Mahaska Specialty Care?
Northern Mahaska Specialty Care is classified as "Non profit - Corporation" ownership. The facility type is "Medicare and Medicaid".
When was Northern Mahaska Specialty Care last inspected?
The most recent health inspection for Northern Mahaska Specialty Care was on Nov 24, 2025. The facility received a health inspection rating of 2 out of 5 stars.
What quality measures are tracked for Northern Mahaska Specialty Care?
Northern Mahaska Specialty Care is evaluated on 17 quality measures, of which 8 are used in the CMS star rating calculation. These include measures for both long-stay and short-stay residents covering areas like infections, falls, pressure ulcers, and medication use.
Data Sources

Data source: CMS Nursing Home Compare. Ratings, staffing, deficiency, quality measure, and penalty data are from CMS Provider Data. For informational purposes only. Verify the same CCN on Medicare.gov Care Compare and with the facility or your state health department.

Source: CMS Nursing Home Compare provider data (data.cms.gov). See our methodology for how this page is compiled. Ratings, staffing, health-inspection deficiency, and Civil Money Penalty records are published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services under a public-domain (CC0) license.

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