All states › West Virginia › Gary › McDowell Healthcare Center
150 Venus Road Gary, WV 24836 · Mc Dowell County
CMS certification number 515162 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is McDowell Healthcare 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 McDowell Healthcare Center as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall, above the West Virginia 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 3.38 hours per resident per day at McDowell Healthcare Center, about the same as the West Virginia median of 3.48 (US median: 3.72). About 0.47 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 2.93 hours, 13% below its all-week average. 41.5% of nursing staff left within a year (West Virginia median 42.3%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at McDowell Healthcare Center: Medicare and Medicaid
McDowell Healthcare 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 West Virginia'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 February 26, 2026 and found 4 deficiencies. In total, inspectors issued 22 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 22 citations at McDowell Healthcare Center across 3 inspection dates, 1 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 21 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 1 was minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were resident assessment and care planning (9) and quality of life and care (4). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide and implement an infection prevention and control program" (tag F0880, level E, February 26, 2026).
February 26, 2026 · 4 citations
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
BEnsure 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.
August 7, 2024 · 9 citations · includes complaint inspection
ECoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
EPASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
EProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DHonor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
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 a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DImplement 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.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
DHave the Quality Assessment and Assurance group have the required members and meet at least quarterly
August 24, 2022 · 9 citations
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DHonor 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.
DEncode each resident’s assessment data and transmit these data to the State within 7 days of assessment.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
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.
DEnsure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
DProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
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 McDowell Healthcare Center
- What do families most often ask you about before moving in?
- 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 | 5/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| August 2026 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near McDowell Healthcare 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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6.1 mi
Welch Community Hospital WelchEmergency roomMedian ER visit 3h 19m for patients treated and sent home
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16.7 mi
Carilion Tazewell Community Hospital TazewellEmergency roomMedian ER visit 2h 19m for patients treated and sent home
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23.0 mi
Princeton Community Hospital PrincetonEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 2h 52m 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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Other Communicare Health nursing homes in West Virginia
- Webster Healthcare Center · Cowen · 5 stars
- Summersville Healthcare Center · Summersville · 5 stars
- Clay Healthcare Center · Ivydale · 5 stars
- Wayne Healthcare Center · Wayne · 5 stars
- Lincoln Healthcare Center · Hamlin · 5 stars
- Wellsburg Healthcare Center · Wellsburg · 5 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 109 Communicare 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.