All states › Iowa › Marcus › Heartland Care Center
604 East Fenton Po Box 608 Marcus, IA 51035 · Cherokee County
CMS certification number 165397 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Heartland Care 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 Heartland Care Center as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall, above the Iowa average of 3.1.
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.
Staffing
Nursing staff spend about 4.45 hours per resident per day at Heartland Care Center, above the Iowa median of 3.76 (US median: 3.72). About 1.53 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.64 hours, 18% below its all-week average. Ask how weekends are staffed. 28.6% 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.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Heartland Care Center: Medicare and Medicaid
Heartland Care Center is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet Iowa's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.
In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.
Health inspections
The most recent standard inspection was on May 7, 2026 and found 5 deficiencies. In total, inspectors issued 18 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 18 citations at Heartland Care Center across 4 inspection dates, 1 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 18 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 0 were minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were infection control (4) and nutrition and dietary (4). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "employ sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician" (tag F0801, level E, May 7, 2026).
May 7, 2026 · 5 citations
EEmploy sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
DProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
September 25, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
April 10, 2025 · 5 citations
EImplement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
DNotify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.
DCoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
April 4, 2024 · 7 citations
EEnsure 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.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DEnsure necessary information is communicated to the resident, and receiving health care provider at the time of a planned discharge.
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.
DProvide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
DEducate residents and staff on COVID-19 vaccination, offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents and staff after education, and properly document each resident and staff member's vaccination status.
Questions to ask on a tour of Heartland Care Center
- Weekend staffing is 18% below the all-week average. Who is on duty on Saturday nights?
- Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
- 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
CMS reports no fines or payment denials for this home in the last three years.
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 5/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August 2026 | 5/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Heartland Care Center
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
- 12.5 mi
-
13.6 mi
Cherokee Regional Medical Center CherokeeEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 2h 14m for patients treated and sent home
-
17.2 mi
Orange City Area Health System Orange CityEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 1h 57m for patients treated and sent home
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
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Compare Heartland Care Center with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
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.