All states › Massachusetts › Worcester › St Mary Health Care Center
39 Queen Street Worcester, MA 01610 · Worcester County
All 16 nursing homes in Worcester, MA (16 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 225305 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is St Mary Health 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 St Mary Health Care Center as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 2 out of 5 stars overall, below the Massachusetts 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 3.58 hours per resident per day at St Mary Health Care Center, below the Massachusetts median of 3.72 (US median: 3.72). About 0.34 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.33 hours, 7% below its all-week average. 31.5% of nursing staff left within a year (Massachusetts median 36.1%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at St Mary Health Care Center: Medicare and Medicaid
St Mary Health 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 Massachusetts'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 April 14, 2026 and found 7 deficiencies, plus 2 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 27 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 27 citations at St Mary Health Care Center across 5 inspection dates, 3 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on October 29, 2025. The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (8) and resident assessment and care planning (4). 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 G, October 29, 2025).
April 14, 2026 · 7 citations
EProvide 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.
EEnsure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
DEnsure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube.
DEnsure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
DProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
October 29, 2025 · 2 citations, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
June 23, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
EHonor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions.
December 18, 2024 · 9 citations
DAssess the resident when there is a significant change in condition
DCoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DProvide the appropriate treatment and services to a resident who displays or is diagnosed with mental disorder or psychosocial adjustment difficulty, or who has a history of trauma and/or post-traumatic stress disorder.
DProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
DHave an agreement with an approved laboratory to obtain services, if on-site laboratory services aren't provided.
DProvide timely, approved x-ray services, or have an agreement with an approved provider to obtain them.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
CPost nurse staffing information every day.
October 17, 2023 · 8 citations
FProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
EProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
DPASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
DAssist a resident in gaining access to vision and hearing services.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
CPost nurse staffing information every day.
Questions to ask on a tour of St Mary Health Care Center
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on October 29, 2025 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- 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 $8,788 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 2025 | Fine | $8,788 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| August 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near St Mary Health 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.
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1.0 mi
St Vincent Hospital WorcesterEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 3h 26m for patients treated and sent home
- 1.1 mi
- 1.6 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 St Mary Health Care Center › All nursing homes in Worcester ›
Compare St Mary Health Care Center with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- West Side House LTC Facility · Worcester · 5 stars · 0.7 mi
- Lutheran Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Center · Worcester · 5 stars · 1.1 mi
- Holy Trinity Eastern Orthodox N & R Center · Worcester · 5 stars · 2.8 mi
- Knollwood Nursing Center · Worcester · 5 stars · 4.6 mi
Other Covenant Health nursing homes in Massachusetts
- Penacook Place · Haverhill · 4 stars
- M I Nursing & Restorative Center · Lawrence · 3 stars
- Maristhill Nursing & Rehabilitation Center · Waltham · 2 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 8 Covenant Health nursing homes ›
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.