St Luke Lutheran Nursing Home
St Luke Lutheran Nursing Home is a non profit - corporation facility in Spencer, IA with 79 certified beds and a 2-star overall CMS rating. The inspection file holds 25 deficiency records. Total penalties: $90K.
1301 Saint Luke Drive, Spencer, IA 51301
Phone: 7122625931
Overall CMS Rating
vs 3.0 national avg
The verdict
St Luke Lutheran Nursing Home holds a 2-star CMS overall rating — below the 3.0-star national average, with nurse staffing above the national norm. 2 inspection findings reached the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy level.
- 2 / 5
- CMS overall rating (nat'l avg 3.0)
- 4.01
- Nursing hrs/resident-day (nat'l 3.89)
- 25
- Inspection findings on file · 2 serious
- $90K
- Federal penalties (2)
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.
Health Inspection
Staffing
Quality Measures
Long-Stay Quality
Facility Information
- Provider Number
- 165484
- Ownership
- Non profit - Corporation
- Provider Type
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Beds
- 79
- Residents
- 70
- In Hospital
- No
- County
- Clay
- Last Inspection
- Sep 4, 2025
Staffing Data
- RN Hours
- 0.88 (nat'l avg: 0.68)
- LPN Hours
- 0.63
- CNA Hours
- 2.51
- Total Nursing Hours
- 4.01 (nat'l avg: 3.89)
- PT Hours
- 0.06
- Nursing Turnover
- 47.7%
- RN Turnover
- 35.7%
What the CMS Record Reveals About St Luke Lutheran Nursing Home
St Luke Lutheran Nursing Home operates 79 certified beds in Spencer, IA with approximately 70 residents currently in care, and carries a CMS overall rating of 2 out of 5 stars. The overall score is a composite of three weighted sub-ratings published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: health inspection results (1★), staffing levels (5★), and quality measures (4★). 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.
The inspection file contains 25 deficiency records from recent surveys, of which 2 reached the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy threshold on the CMS scope-and-severity grid. On the enforcement side, CMS has assessed 2 penalties totaling $90K against this provider, a tangible indicator that regulators moved beyond citation into financial consequence. Staffing is reported at 4.01 total nursing hours per resident day (national average 3.89), with RN coverage at 0.88 per resident day — the single staffing metric most strongly tied to resident outcomes in peer-reviewed literature.
Classified as "Non profit - Corporation" ownership and operating as a "Medicare and Medicaid" provider, St Luke Lutheran Nursing Home falls into a category where comparative context matters. 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. Reported nursing turnover at this facility is 47.7%, within a range generally associated with stable care teams. 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 details directly with the facility or your state survey agency before making placement decisions.
Deficiency History (25 most recent)
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 17, 2025
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: Sep 17, 2025
Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
Category: Resident Rights Deficiencies
Corrected: Sep 17, 2025
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 17, 2025
Give their staff education on dementia care, and what abuse, neglect, and exploitation are; and how to report abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Category: Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Corrected: Sep 17, 2025
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Category: Infection Control Deficiencies
Corrected: Sep 17, 2025
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Category: Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Corrected: Sep 17, 2025
Provide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.
Category: Resident Rights Deficiencies
Corrected: Sep 17, 2025
Ensure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.
Category: Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Corrected: Sep 17, 2025
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 5, 2024
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Category: Infection Control Deficiencies
Corrected: Sep 12, 2024
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Corrected: Sep 12, 2024
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Corrected: Sep 12, 2024
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Category: Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Corrected: Sep 12, 2024
Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
Category: Resident Rights Deficiencies
Corrected: Sep 12, 2024
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 12, 2024
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Category: Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Corrected: May 25, 2024
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: May 25, 2024
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Category: Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Corrected: May 25, 2024
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: May 25, 2024
Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
Category: Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Corrected: Sep 17, 2023
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 17, 2023
Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Corrected: Sep 17, 2023
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Category: Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Corrected: Sep 17, 2023
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: May 28, 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 | 19.6% | Yes |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who lose too much weight | Long Stay | 7.3% | No |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder | Long Stay | 6.4% | Yes |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection | Long Stay | 2.7% | Yes |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms | Long Stay | 0.8% | No |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who were physically restrained | Long Stay | 0.0% | No |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury | Long Stay | 1.1% | Yes |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine | Long Stay | 91.4% | No |
| Percentage of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine | Short Stay | 87.6% | No |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication | Short Stay | 1.1% | Yes |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened | Long Stay | 12.0% | Yes |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antianxiety or hypnotic medication | Long Stay | 11.5% | No |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine | Long Stay | 90.8% | No |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine | Short Stay | 58.3% | No |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers | Long Stay | 5.5% | Yes |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with new or worsened bowel or bladder incontinence | Long Stay | 17.5% | No |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication | Long Stay | 17.0% | Yes |
Penalty History 2 penalties totaling $90K
| Date | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 4, 2025 | Fine | $82K |
| Aug 22, 2024 | Fine | $8K |
| Aug 22, 2024 | Payment Denial | - |
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Understanding Nursing Home Data
Frequently Asked Questions
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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. Always verify information directly with the facility or your state health department.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.