facebook tracking Buchanan County Health Center, Independence IA: CMS Ratings
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Buchanan County Health Center

All states › Iowa › Independence › Buchanan County Health Center

1600 First Street East Independence, IA 50644 · Buchanan County

(319) 334-6071

All 2 nursing homes in Independence, IA (2 take Medicaid)

Accepts Medicaid 39 certified beds Government

CMS certification number 16E050 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare

Ratings come from CMS and are updated monthly; these are from October 2026. Check the latest inspection report and visit in person before you decide.

Is Buchanan County Health Center a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record

There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for Buchanan County Health Center as of October 2026.

CMS rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall, above the Iowa average of 3.1. Inspectors issued 12 citations in the last three years. CMS imposed 1 penalty, including $4,011 in fines, in that time.

Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.

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Staffing

Nursing staff spend about 4.30 hours per resident per day at Buchanan County Health Center, above the Iowa median of 3.76 (US median: 3.72). About 1.22 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.61 hours, 16% below its all-week average. Ask how weekends are staffed. 24.2% of nursing staff left within a year (Iowa median 41.7%). That is lower than most homes in Iowa, a sign of a steadier team.

Nursing care per resident per day 4.30 hours
Above the Iowa median of 3.76 Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and aides combined, from payroll records.
Registered nurse hours 1.22 per resident a day RNs handle assessments, medications and changes in condition.
Weekend nursing care 3.61 hours Per resident a day. A big drop from weekdays can mean thin weekend staffing.
Nursing staff turnover 24.2% a year Share of nursing staff who left over a year. Lower usually means steadier care.
Registered nurse turnover 12.5% a year Share of registered nurses who left over a year.
Administrators who left — Frequent leadership changes are worth asking about on a visit.

About this nursing home

Certified beds39
Residents per day 34 About 88% of beds filled, on average
OwnershipGovernment - County
Payment acceptedMedicaid
Certified sinceOctober 1974
Legal business nameLegal Business Name Not Available
Located in a hospitalYes

Paying for care at Buchanan County Health Center: Medicare and Medicaid

Buchanan County Health Center is certified for Medicaid but not Medicare, so Medicare won't pay for a rehab stay here after a hospital discharge. It can serve long-term residents covered by Iowa Medicaid.

This home is located in a hospital.

Health inspections

The most recent standard inspection was on March 19, 2026 and found 1 deficiency. In total, inspectors issued 12 citations in the last three years.

Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.

What the inspections found

Over the last three years, inspectors issued 12 citations at Buchanan County Health Center across 4 inspection dates, 2 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the immediate-jeopardy level (J–L), CMS's most serious category, most recently on November 26, 2024 (complaint inspection). The most common areas cited were resident assessment and care planning (5) and nutrition and dietary (3). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents" (tag F0689, level J, November 26, 2024).

March 19, 2026 · 1 citation

EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0880 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 20, 2026)

March 20, 2025 · 4 citations

FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0812 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 31, 2025)

DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0658 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 31, 2025)

BAssess the resident when there is a significant change in condition

Potential for minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0637 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 31, 2025)

BDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.

Potential for minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0657 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 31, 2025)

November 26, 2024 · 2 citations, includes immediate jeopardy · includes complaint inspection

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

Immediate jeopardy · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0689 · Complaint inspection · Past Non-Compliance (Oct 31, 2024)

DEnsure that the facility has sufficient staff members who possess the competencies and skills to meet the behavioral health needs of residents.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0741 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Dec 27, 2024)

June 6, 2024 · 5 citations

FEmploy sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0801 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jul 5, 2024)

FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0812 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jul 5, 2024)

DAssess the resident when there is a significant change in condition

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0637 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jul 5, 2024)

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

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0656 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jul 5, 2024)

DProvide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0688 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jul 5, 2024)

Questions to ask on a tour of Buchanan County Health Center

  1. Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on November 26, 2024 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
  2. Weekend staffing is 16% below the all-week average. Who is on duty on Saturday nights?
  3. Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
  4. When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?

Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.

Fines and payment denials

1 penalty in the last three years, including $4,011 in fines.

DateTypeAmount or length
Nov 26, 2024 Fine $4,011

Rating history

CMS monthOverallInspectionStaffingQuality
October 2026 5/5 4/5 5/5 2/5
August 2026 5/5 4/5 5/5 4/5
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Location

Hospitals near Buchanan County Health Center

The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.

Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.

Nearby nursing homes

Rehabilitation Centers of Independence West Campus Independence · 0.2 mi away ★★★☆☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 2/5 70 beds · Medicaid
Oelwein Health Care Center Oelwein · 14.0 mi away ★★★☆☆ Inspection 3/5 · Staffing 3/5 61 beds · Medicaid
Grandview Healthcare Center Oelwein · 14.1 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 3/5 72 beds · Medicaid
Laporte City Specialty Care La Porte City · 20.2 mi away ★★★★★ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 4/5 46 beds · Medicaid
Virginia Gay Nursing & Rehab Vinton · 21.6 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 3/5 · Staffing 4/5 40 beds · Medicaid

More nursing homes near Buchanan County Health Center ›   All nursing homes in Independence ›

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Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.

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https://www.nursinghomesineachstate.com/iowa/independence/buchanan-county-health-center/ · Data: CMS, October 2026 · Nursing Homes In Each State, not affiliated with CMS or Medicare.