All states › Iowa › Mason City › Good Shepherd Health Center
302 Second Street NE Mason City, IA 50401 · Cerro Gordo County
All 3 nursing homes in Mason City, IA (3 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 165072 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Good Shepherd 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 Good Shepherd Health Center as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 2 out of 5 stars overall, below 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 3.90 hours per resident per day at Good Shepherd Health Center, above the Iowa median of 3.76 (US median: 3.72). About 0.42 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.64 hours, 7% below its all-week average. 68.6% of nursing staff left within a year (Iowa median 41.7%). High turnover can mean residents see unfamiliar caregivers; ask how long the nurses on the unit have worked there.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Good Shepherd Health Center: Medicare and Medicaid
Good Shepherd Health 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 December 11, 2025 and found 5 deficiencies, plus 2 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 28 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 28 citations at Good Shepherd Health Center across 8 inspection dates, 10 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the immediate-jeopardy level (J–L), CMS's most serious category, most recently on August 30, 2024 (complaint inspection). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (10) and resident assessment and care planning (5). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals" (tag F0684, level J, August 30, 2024). 1 citation was under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
February 24, 2026 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
December 11, 2025 · 5 citations
EHonor 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.
EHave the Quality Assessment and Assurance group have the required members and meet at least quarterly
DEnsure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
DHonor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions.
DCoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
March 13, 2025 · 3 citations, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GProvide or arrange emergency care by a doctor 24 hours a day.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
October 31, 2024 · 7 citations
DEncode each resident’s assessment data and transmit these data to the State within 7 days of assessment.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
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.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DProvide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
DConduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
September 6, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
August 30, 2024 · 3 citations, includes immediate jeopardy · includes complaint inspection
JProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
EProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
November 20, 2023 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
July 6, 2023 · 6 citations
FPost nurse staffing information every day.
FDispose of garbage and refuse properly.
DEncode each resident’s assessment data and transmit these data to the State within 7 days of assessment.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Questions to ask on a tour of Good Shepherd Health Center
- Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on August 30, 2024 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on March 13, 2025. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- Nursing staff turnover was 68.6% a year. How many of the staff come from agencies?
- CMS rates short-stay quality 1 out of 5. How often do rehab patients go back to the hospital, and how many therapy sessions a week are typical?
- 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
1 penalty in the last three years, including $87,458 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 2024 | Fine | $87,458 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| August 2026 | 1/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 1/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Good Shepherd 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.
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1.1 mi
Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa Mason CityEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 3h 13m for patients treated and sent home
- 21.6 mi
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
More nursing homes near Good Shepherd Health Center › All nursing homes in Mason City ›
Compare Good Shepherd Health Center with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- I O O F Home and Community Therapy Center · Mason City · 5 stars · 1.7 mi
- Nora Springs Care Center · Nora Springs · 4 stars · 9.0 mi
- Heritage Care and Rehabilitation Center · Mason City · 3 stars · 0.8 mi
- Manly Specialty Care · Manly · 3 stars · 9.0 mi
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.