Crystal Heights Care Center
1514 High Avenue West, Oskaloosa, IA 52577 · Mahaska County · (641) 673-7032
72 certified beds, about 67 residents a day · For profit - Corporation · Medicare and Medicaid since 2006
CMS Care Compare ratings, data as of September 1, 2026 · CCN 165570 · See it on Medicare.gov · Compare with other homes
The record in brief
At its most recent standard inspection, on July 16, 2026, inspectors cited 4 health deficiencies (the Iowa average is 6.5, the national average 9.2).
Of 18 health citations since December 2023, 1 was rated as actual harm or immediate jeopardy to residents.
CMS lists 1 fine totaling $10,489 in the last three years; the largest was $10,489, and the latest is dated December 11, 2023.
Nurses and nurse aides worked 3.07 hours per resident per day, against 3.82 across Iowa and 3.86 nationally. Registered nurses accounted for 0.40 of those hours.
63.5% of nursing staff left within the year CMS measured (Iowa average 44.0%).
CMS links it to The Ensign Group, an affiliated group of 344 nursing homes.
Health inspections
Federal rules call for a standard inspection at least every 15 months, plus a visit whenever a complaint is filed. Each mark below is one citation, colored by how serious inspectors rated it. How to read a citation.
Under each citation, the quoted text is the inspector's own summary from the federal statement of deficiencies (CMS form 2567), word for word apart from a privacy scrub; CMS removes residents' and staff names before it publishes the text. The full notes are on Medicare.gov.
Where its citations fall on CMS's grid
CMS rates every citation by how much harm it caused (rows) and how many residents it touched (columns). The count in each box is this home's, across all 18 health citations on file.
July 16, 2026Standard inspection · 5 citations
- G Provide 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.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, record review, and interview, the facility failed to ensure staff provided range of motion (ROM) (joint movement exercises) to maintain functional status and prevent joint contractures (permanent tightening of muscles or joints) for 1 of 2 residents reviewed for restorative care (Resident #37). The facility reported a census of 68 residents.
- E Ensure meals and snacks are served at times in accordance with resident’s needs, preferences, and requests. Suitable and nourishing alternative meals and snacks must be provided for residents who want to eat at non-traditional times or outside of scheduled meal times.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, record review, and interview, the facility failed to ensure staff served meals in a timely manner for 7 of 7 residents (Resident #3, Resident #55, Resident #58, Resident #64, Resident #68, Resident #38, and Resident #28) reviewed for meal service. The facility reported a census of 68 residents.
- D Honor the resident's right to manage his or her financial affairs.
Inspectors wroteBased on clinical record review, policy review, staff, and resident interviews, the facility failed to ensure residents had access to their personal funds in a timely manner for 1 of 1 resident reviewed for personal funds (Resident #55) and for 9 of 9 additional residents who did not have access to their funds for their shopping needs. The facility reported a census of 68 residents.
- D Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, record review, and interview, the facility failed to ensure staff provided planned activities and supervision for 3 of 3 residents (Resident #17, Resident #20, Resident #19) living on the Memory Care Unit. The facility reported a census of 68 residents.
- D Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
Inspectors wroteBased on review of Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement(QAPI) meeting documentation, policy review, and staff interview, the facility failed to carry out Quality Assurance(QA) activities to obtain feedback, use data, and take action to conduct structured, systematic investigations and analysis of underlying causes or contributing factors of problems affecting facility-wide processes that impact quality of care, quality of life, and resident safety. The facility reported a census of 68 residents.
December 8, 2025Complaint inspection · 1 citation
- D Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Inspectors wroteBased on Clinical record review and staff interview, the facility failed to follow medication administration protocol resulting in the wrong medication being administered. (Resident#1). The facility reported census was 70.
June 26, 2025Standard inspection, Complaint inspection · 11 citations
- E Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, clinical record review, policy review, and staff interview, the facility failed to ensure the Care Plan identified Hospice services, correct transfer status, activities, and behavioral interventions for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and lacked documentation of care conferences conducted for 7 of 19 residents reviewed for Care Plans (Residents #15, #33, #34, #37, #44, #56 #61). The facility reported a census of 62 residents.
- E Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
Inspectors wroteBased on observations, representative, staff interviews, record review, and facility policy review the facility failed to provide the residents in the Chronic, Confusion, and Dementia Illness (CCDI) unit a activity program built to meet the interests of and support the physical, mental and psychosocial well-being of each resident.
- D Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Inspectors wrote3. On 6/25/25 at 8:05 AM, observation of Resident #14 revealed the resident was sitting in the dining room with Staff A, LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse), next to her. Staff A fed the resident a bite of oatmeal. Resident #14 said, That's too hot. Staff A responded that it wasn't too hot and tried to give the resident another bite. Resident #14 stated, If you burned your mouth you would think it was too hot too. Resident #14 refused to eat any more of the oatmeal. Based on observation, clinical record review, and staff interview, the facility failed to treat 2 of 5 residents reviewed for dignity with respect by failing to assist a resident to the bathroom when the need was voiced (Residents #14 and #44) and by failing to acknowledge a resident's food temperature preferences (Resident #14). The facility reported a census of 62 residents.
- D Honor the resident's right to manage his or her financial affairs.
Inspectors wroteBased on clinical record review, policy review, and staff and resident interviews, the facility failed to ensure residents had ready access to their personal funds for 1 of 1 residents reviewed for personal funds(Resident #33). The facility reported a census of 62 residents.
- D Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
Inspectors wroteBased on Code Status Form, observation, record review and interview the facility failed to ensure consistent documentation of code status for 1 of 24 resident reviewed for advanced directives (Resident #15). The facility reported a census of 72 residents.
- D Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Inspectors wroteBased on clinical record review, observation and staff interviews, the facility failed to ensure staff completed the assessment of residents to accurately reflect their status for 2 of 19 sampled residents (Resident #18 and #12). The facility reported a census of 62 residents.
- D Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, clinical record review, policy review, and staff interview, the facility failed to assist 1 of 2 residents reviewed for toileting assistance to the bathroom when the need was voiced(Resident #14). The facility reported a census of 62 residents.
- D Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, clinical record review, policy review, and staff interview, the facility failed to ensure 1 of 1 resident reviewed for pain received treatment and care related to pain management(Resident #14). The facility reported a census of 62 residents.
- D Provide care or services that was trauma informed and/or culturally competent.
Inspectors wroteBased on clinical record review, resident/family interview and staff interview, the facility failed to ensure residents who were trauma survivors received trauma-informed care to eliminate or mitigate triggers that might have caused re-traumatization of the resident for 2 of 2 sampled residents (Resident #1 and #34) identified by either record review or interview as being a trauma survivor. The facility reported a census of 62 residents.
- D Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Inspectors wroteBased on clinical record review, policy review, resident/family interview and staff interview, the facility failed to ensure they had sufficient nursing staff to meet the needs of the residents for 3 of 19 sampled residents (Resident #1, #13, and #50). The facility reported a census of 62 residents.
- D Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Inspectors wrote2. On 6/26/25 at 11:24 AM, Staff B, Registered Nurse (RN), removed Furosemide and Tramadol from the medication cart and put the medications in a cup with applesauce. Staff B approached Resident #5 with the medications, fed the resident the medications with a bite of applesauce. Staff B then touched the resident's shoulder and returned to the medication cart. Staff B threw away the used medication cup, charted, flipped between the residents' Medication Administration Records (MARs), put applesauce in a cup, opened the medication cart with the keys, removed a medication cassette with Acetaminophen from the cart, dropped two tabs in the cup with applesauce, returned the cassette to the medication cart and locked the cart. [...]
August 8, 2024Standard inspection · 0 citations
December 7, 2023Complaint inspection · 1 citation
- D Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Inspectors wrote2. The Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment, dated 10/08/23, revealed Resident #54 diagnoses included: Congestive Heart Failure, anemia, Diabetes Mellitus, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, and Schizophrenia. The MDS indicated Resident #54 had disorganized thinking, trouble sleeping, and feeling down or depressed nearly every day of reference period. Resident #54 required the following types of medications: antipsychotic, insulin, and diuretic, on a daily basis. The Baseline Care Plan, dated 10/03/23 for an admission date of 10/02/23, revealed Resident #54 required 1500 milliliter (mL) per day fluid restriction and diabetic ulcer wound care upon admission. On 12/06/23 at 02:00 PM Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON), revealed she was responsible for Care Plans and stated if a Care Plan was not in a resident's Electronic Health Record (EHR), it had not been done. [...]
Fire safety inspections
12 fire safety citations on file: 6 on July 16, 2026, 3 on June 26, 2025, 3 on August 8, 2024.
Every fire safety citation12 citations
- F Conduct testing and exercise requirements.
- F Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
- F Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
- E Add doors in an exit area that do not require the use of a key from the exit side unless in case of special locking arrangements.
- E Install smoke barrier doors that can resist smoke for at least 20 minutes.
- E Have proper medical gas storage and administration areas.
- F Use approved construction type or materials.
- D Have exits that are accessible at all times.
- D Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- F Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- E Use approved construction type or materials.
- E Have properly installed electrical wiring and gas equipment.
Fines and payment denials
| Date | Penalty | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| December 11, 2023 | Fine | $10,489 |
A payment denial means Medicare and Medicaid stopped paying for new admissions for that period.
Staffing
Hours of care per resident per day, from the payroll records every home sends CMS. Higher means more staff time with each resident.
| Measure | This home | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| All nursing staff (RN, LPN and aides) | 3.07 | 3.82 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses | 0.40 | 0.74 | 0.69 |
| All nursing staff on weekends | 2.59 | 3.37 | 3.42 |
| Nurse aides | 2.25 | ||
| Licensed practical nurses | 0.42 | ||
| Nursing staff turnover (share who left in a year) | 63.5% | 44.0% | 45.8% |
| Registered nurse turnover | not reported | 42.1% | 42.9% |
| Administrators who left | 1 |
CMS expects 3.21 hours a day for residents as sick as this home's (its case-mix figure). The staffing star compares the two.
Staffing by quarter, from daily payroll records
Every nursing home sends CMS its staff hours for each day (the Payroll Based Journal). Here they are added up by quarter. The latest quarter is the one behind the figures above. In January to March 2026, nursing staff hours per resident were 3.26 on weekdays and 2.59 on weekends, 21% lower on weekends (nationally, weekends ran 15% lower). Contract or agency staff worked 4.7% of nursing hours, against 5.3% nationally. Total nursing hours per resident went from 2.77 in April to June 2025 to 3.07 in January to March 2026.
| Quarter | All nursing staff | Registered nurses | Weekdays | Weekends | Contract staff share | Days with no RN hours | Residents a day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.07 | 0.40 | 3.26 | 2.59 | 4.7% | 0 of 90 | 67 |
| Oct to Dec 2025 | 2.94 | 0.34 | 3.11 | 2.51 | 6.3% | 1 of 92 | 67 |
| Jul to Sep 2025 | 2.80 | 0.23 | 2.93 | 2.47 | 12.4% | 3 of 92 | 64 |
| Apr to Jun 2025 | 2.77 | 0.30 | 2.85 | 2.58 | 15.1% | 0 of 91 | 61 |
| United States, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.75 | 0.62 | 3.92 | 3.33 | 5.3% | 0.5% of days | |
| Iowa, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.80 | 0.71 | 3.98 | 3.36 | 4.7% | 0.3% of days |
Hours per resident per day: staff hours in the quarter divided by resident days (the daily census CMS derives from resident assessments). Registered nurses include the director of nursing and RNs with administrative duties; aides include nurse aides in training and medication aides, as in CMS's own staffing measure. How these are calculated.
Quality measures
The measures CMS uses for the quality star. Lower is better for every one of them.
| Measure | This home | Iowa | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 21.7 | 17.1 | 13.9 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 0.8 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 6.5 | 2.4 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 3.2 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication Short Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 4.3 | 2.1 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 11.1 | 16.6 | 14.1 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 2.5 | 4.2 | 4.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 37.1 | 19.4 | 15.4 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 21.5 | 20.9 | 23.8 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 10.1 | 13.2 | 12.0 |
| Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 1.9 |
| Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 1.8 |
Owners and operators
Legal business name: CANFIELD RIVER HEALTHCARE LLC. CMS links this home to The Ensign Group, a group of 344 nursing homes averaging 3.2 stars overall.
| Name | Role | Type | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gateway Healthcare LLC | Direct ownership interest | Organization | 05/21/2025 | |
| The Ensign Group Inc | Indirect ownership interest | Organization | 05/21/2025 | |
| Burnam, Soon | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 05/21/2025 | |
| Koenig, Debra | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 08/01/2025 | |
| North, David | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 08/01/2025 | |
| Burnam, Soon | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 05/21/2025 | |
| Koenig, Debra | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 08/01/2025 | |
| North, David | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 08/01/2025 | |
| Jorgensen, David | Individual is an owner, partner or trustee of any ADP of the SNF | Individual | 08/20/2025 | |
| Keetch, Chad | Individual is an owner, partner or trustee of any ADP of the SNF | Individual | 08/20/2025 | |
| Port, Barry | Individual is an owner, partner or trustee of any ADP of the SNF | Individual | 07/24/2025 | |
| Ensign Services Inc | Adp of the SNF | Organization | 05/21/2025 | |
| Narrows Peak Health Holdings LLC | Adp of the SNF | Organization | 08/01/2025 | |
| Standard Bearer Healthcare Op, LP | Adp of the SNF | Organization | 08/01/2025 | |
| Koenig, Debra | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 07/24/2025 | |
| North, David | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 07/24/2025 |
As listed in the CMS ownership file, which names owners with a 5% or greater stake and the people and companies with operational or managerial control.
Questions to ask on a visit
Chosen from this home's own inspection record.
- How do you prevent falls and pressure injuries, and how are families told when one happens?Inspectors cited 6 problems in this area, most recently on July 16, 2026: "Provide 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."
- How do residents and families raise a complaint or grievance, and how fast is it answered?Inspectors cited 4 problems in this area, most recently on July 16, 2026: "Honor the resident's right to manage his or her financial affairs."
- When is the care plan meeting, and can family attend it?Inspectors cited 3 problems in this area, most recently on June 26, 2025: "Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals."
- Can we see a week of menus and the kitchen, and how are special diets handled?Inspectors cited 1 problem in this area, most recently on July 16, 2026: "Ensure meals and snacks are served at times in accordance with resident’s needs, preferences, and requests. Suitable and nourishing alternative meals and snacks must be provided for residents who want to eat at non-traditional times or outside of scheduled meal times."
- Who is on the floor on Saturday and Sunday, and how many residents does each aide care for?Weekend nurse staffing here was 2.59 hours per resident per day, below the Iowa average of 3.37.
- How long has the current administrator been here?CMS counts 1 administrator who left in the period it measured.
Other nursing homes nearby
- Oskaloosa Care Center Oskaloosa, 0.4 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 33 citations
- Northern Mahaska Specialty Care Oskaloosa, 1.6 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 10 citations
- The Cottages Pella, 15.9 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 23 citations
- Oakwood Specialty Care Albia, 20.8 mi · 4 of 5 stars · 18 citations
- Montezuma Specialty Care Montezuma, 20.9 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 13 citations
- Accura Healthcare of Knoxville, LLC Knoxville, 22.4 mi · 2 of 5 stars · 15 citations
- Ridgewood Specialty Care Ottumwa, 22.4 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 18 citations
- Good Samaritan - Ottumwa Ottumwa, 22.7 mi · 2 of 5 stars · 44 citations
Iowa contacts for a concern about a nursing home
These are the official offices in Iowa. NursingHomeClear cannot take or act on complaints.
- Inspections and complaints: Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, Health Facilities, the state agency that inspects nursing homes for CMS and takes complaints about care.
- Resident advocate: Iowa Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, 866-236-1430. The long-term care ombudsman is a free, confidential advocate for residents and families, set up under the federal Older Americans Act.
- State inspection reports: Iowa Health Facility Database, Entity Search, where Iowa publishes its own records on licensed homes.
Common questions
- What is Crystal Heights Care Center's Medicare star rating?
- CMS rates Crystal Heights Care Center 3 out of 5 stars overall, with 3 for health inspections, 2 for staffing and 2 for quality measures (CMS data as of September 1, 2026).
- How many deficiencies did Crystal Heights Care Center get at its last inspection?
- 4 health deficiencies at the standard inspection on July 16, 2026. The Iowa average is 6.5.
- Has Crystal Heights Care Center been fined?
- Yes. CMS lists 1 fine totaling $10,489 in the last three years.
- Does Crystal Heights Care Center accept Medicaid?
- It is certified to take Medicaid (CMS lists it as "Medicare and Medicaid"). Certification does not mean a Medicaid bed is open: ask the admissions office.
- Who owns Crystal Heights Care Center?
- CMS lists 16 owners and managers, and links the home to The Ensign Group. Legal business name: CANFIELD RIVER HEALTHCARE LLC.
Sources
- Ratings, staffing and fines: CMS Provider Information, released September 30, 2026, data as of September 1, 2026.
- Citations: CMS Health Deficiencies and Fire Safety Deficiencies.
- Owners: CMS Ownership. Penalties: CMS Penalties.
- Staffing by quarter: CMS Payroll Based Journal Daily Nurse Staffing, April 2025 to March 2026, summed by NursingHomeClear.
- Inspector summaries: CMS Full Statement of Deficiencies (CMS-2567 text), data as of September 1, 2026. Each quote is the part of the statement before the detailed findings.
- Inspection reports with the inspectors' full notes are on this home's Medicare.gov page.
- Something wrong on this page? Ask for a correction. We fix errors in our copy of the data; findings themselves can only be changed by CMS and the state.
- NursingHomeClear is independent and not affiliated with CMS, Medicare or any state agency. This page reports federal records; it does not rate, recommend or endorse any home, and it is not medical or legal advice.