All states › Minnesota › St Charles › Whitewater Health Services
525 Bluff Avenue St Charles, MN 55972 · Winona County
CMS certification number 245270 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Whitewater Health Services 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 Whitewater Health Services as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 2 out of 5 stars overall, below the Minnesota average of 3.2.
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 4.13 hours per resident per day at Whitewater Health Services, about the same as the Minnesota median of 4.18 (US median: 3.72). About 1.23 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.59 hours, 13% below its all-week average. 40% of nursing staff left within a year (Minnesota median 39.7%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Whitewater Health Services: Medicare and Medicaid
Whitewater Health Services 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 Minnesota'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 July 2, 2026 and found 6 deficiencies, plus 4 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 21 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 21 citations at Whitewater Health Services across 6 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 6, 2024 (complaint inspection). The most common areas cited were resident rights (5) 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 J, August 6, 2024). 3 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
July 2, 2026 · 7 citations · includes complaint inspection
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.
EKeep all essential equipment working safely.
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.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
DProvide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
April 16, 2026 · 3 citations · includes complaint inspection
DCreate and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
DPost nurse staffing information every day.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
June 16, 2025 · 4 citations · includes complaint inspection
EProtect each resident from the wrongful use of the resident's belongings or money.
ETimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
ERespond appropriately to all alleged violations.
EProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
May 14, 2025 · 5 citations
DAllow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
DCreate and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
DProvide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
CAllow residents to easily view the nursing home's survey results and communicate with advocate agencies.
August 6, 2024 · 1 citation, includes immediate jeopardy · includes complaint inspection
JProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
June 12, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Questions to ask on a tour of Whitewater Health Services
- Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on August 6, 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 June 16, 2025. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- CMS rates short-stay quality 2 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 $16,452 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 2024 | Fine | $16,452 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| August 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 |
Add this rating badge to your websiteFree. Shows Whitewater Health Services's Medicare star rating and updates itself.
Size and colour
Preview
Paste it where the badge should appear: in WordPress, a Custom HTML block or a footer widget; on other sites, any spot that accepts HTML. The badge updates itself when CMS publishes new ratings.
Location
Hospitals near Whitewater Health Services
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
-
19.2 mi
Olmsted Medical Center RochesterEmergency room ★★★★☆ Medicare overall 4 of 5Median ER visit 2h 15m for patients treated and sent home
- 19.7 mi
-
21.2 mi
Mayo Clinic - Saint Marys Hospital RochesterEmergency room ★★★★★ Medicare overall 5 of 5Median ER visit 4h 6m 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
More nursing homes near Whitewater Health Services › All nursing homes in St Charles ›
Compare Whitewater Health Services with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Other North Shore Healthcare nursing homes in Minnesota
- La Crescent Health Services · La Crescent · 1 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 57 North Shore Healthcare 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.