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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

Certified for Medicaid Certified for Medicare
Overall
3 of 5
Health inspections
3 of 5
Staffing
2 of 5
Quality measures
2 of 5

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.

Potential for minimal harm Potential for more than minimal harm Actual harm Immediate jeopardy Found on a complaint visit

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.

Severity
Isolated
Pattern
Widespread
Immediate jeopardy
0J
0K
0L
Actual harm
1G
0H
0I
Potential for more than minimal harm
14D
3E
0F
Potential for minimal harm
0A
0B
0C
July 16, 2026Standard inspection · 5 citations
  1. 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.
    F688 · Quality of Life and Care · Actual harm, isolated · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) August 6, 2026 · disputed by the home (informal dispute resolution)
    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.
  2. 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.
    F809 · Nutrition and Dietary · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, pattern · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) August 6, 2026
    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.
  3. D
    Honor the resident's right to manage his or her financial affairs.
    F567 · Resident Rights · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) August 6, 2026
    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.
  4. D
    Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
    F679 · Quality of Life and Care · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) August 6, 2026
    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.
  5. D
    Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
    F865 · Administration · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) August 6, 2026
    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
  1. D
    Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
    F760 · Pharmacy Service · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated · found on a complaint visit · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) December 15, 2025
    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
  1. E
    Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
    F657 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, pattern · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) July 26, 2025
    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.
  2. E
    Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
    F679 · Quality of Life and Care · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, pattern · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) July 26, 2025
    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.
  3. D
    Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
    F550 · Resident Rights · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated · found on a complaint visit · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) July 26, 2025
    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.
  4. D
    Honor the resident's right to manage his or her financial affairs.
    F567 · Resident Rights · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) July 26, 2025
    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.
  5. 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.
    F578 · Resident Rights · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) July 26, 2025
    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.
  6. D
    Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
    F641 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) July 26, 2025
    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.
  7. 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.
    F690 · Quality of Life and Care · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) July 26, 2025
    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.
  8. D
    Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
    F697 · Quality of Life and Care · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) July 26, 2025
    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.
  9. D
    Provide care or services that was trauma informed and/or culturally competent.
    F699 · Quality of Life and Care · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) July 26, 2025
    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.
  10. D
    Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
    F725 · Nursing and Physician Services · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated · found on a complaint visit · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) July 26, 2025
    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.
  11. D
    Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
    F880 · Infection Control · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated · found on a complaint visit · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) July 26, 2025
    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
  1. D
    Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
    F656 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated · found on a complaint visit · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) January 7, 2024
    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
  1. F
    Conduct testing and exercise requirements.
    E 39 · July 16, 2026 · Corrected (the home has a date of correction)
  2. F
    Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
    K 324 · July 16, 2026 · Corrected (the home has a date of correction)
  3. F
    Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
    K 712 · July 16, 2026 · Corrected (the home has a date of correction)
  4. 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.
    K 222 · July 16, 2026 · Corrected (the home has a date of correction)
  5. E
    Install smoke barrier doors that can resist smoke for at least 20 minutes.
    K 374 · July 16, 2026 · Corrected (the home has a date of correction)
  6. E
    Have proper medical gas storage and administration areas.
    K 923 · July 16, 2026 · Corrected (the home has a date of correction)
  7. F
    Use approved construction type or materials.
    K 161 · June 26, 2025 · Corrected (the home has a date of correction)
  8. D
    Have exits that are accessible at all times.
    K 271 · June 26, 2025 · Corrected (the home has a date of correction)
  9. D
    Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
    K 353 · June 26, 2025 · Corrected (the home has a date of correction)
  10. F
    Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
    K 353 · August 8, 2024 · Corrected (the home has a date of correction)
  11. E
    Use approved construction type or materials.
    K 161 · August 8, 2024 · Corrected (the home has a date of correction)
  12. E
    Have properly installed electrical wiring and gas equipment.
    K 511 · August 8, 2024 · Corrected (the home has a date of correction)

Fines and payment denials

DatePenaltyAmount or length
December 11, 2023Fine $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.

MeasureThis homeIowaUnited States
All nursing staff (RN, LPN and aides)3.073.823.86
Registered nurses0.400.740.69
All nursing staff on weekends2.593.373.42
Nurse aides2.25
Licensed practical nurses0.42
Nursing staff turnover (share who left in a year)63.5%44.0%45.8%
Registered nurse turnovernot reported42.1%42.9%
Administrators who left1

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.

QuarterAll nursing staffRegistered nursesWeekdaysWeekendsContract staff shareDays with no RN hoursResidents a day
Jan to Mar 20263.070.403.262.59 4.7%0 of 9067
Oct to Dec 20252.940.343.112.51 6.3%1 of 9267
Jul to Sep 20252.800.232.932.47 12.4%3 of 9264
Apr to Jun 20252.770.302.852.58 15.1%0 of 9161
United States, Jan to Mar 20263.750.623.923.335.3%0.5% of days
Iowa, Jan to Mar 20263.800.713.983.364.7%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.

MeasureThis homeIowaUS
Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased
Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1
21.717.113.9
Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder
Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1
2.11.50.8
Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection
Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1
6.52.41.6
Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury
Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1
3.63.83.2
Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication
Short Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1
4.32.11.6
Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened
Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1
11.116.614.1
Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers
Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1
2.54.24.6
Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication
Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1
37.119.415.4
Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission
Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231
21.520.923.8
Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit
Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231
10.113.212.0
Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days
Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231
0.91.51.9
Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days
Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231
1.52.11.8

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.

NameRoleTypeShareSince
Gateway Healthcare LLCDirect ownership interestOrganization05/21/2025
The Ensign Group IncIndirect ownership interestOrganization05/21/2025
Burnam, SoonManaging control - governing bodyIndividual05/21/2025
Koenig, DebraManaging control - governing bodyIndividual08/01/2025
North, DavidManaging control - governing bodyIndividual08/01/2025
Burnam, SoonOperational/managerial controlIndividual05/21/2025
Koenig, DebraOperational/managerial controlIndividual08/01/2025
North, DavidOperational/managerial controlIndividual08/01/2025
Jorgensen, DavidIndividual is an owner, partner or trustee of any ADP of the SNFIndividual08/20/2025
Keetch, ChadIndividual is an owner, partner or trustee of any ADP of the SNFIndividual08/20/2025
Port, BarryIndividual is an owner, partner or trustee of any ADP of the SNFIndividual07/24/2025
Ensign Services IncAdp of the SNFOrganization05/21/2025
Narrows Peak Health Holdings LLCAdp of the SNFOrganization08/01/2025
Standard Bearer Healthcare Op, LPAdp of the SNFOrganization08/01/2025
Koenig, DebraAdp of the SNFIndividual07/24/2025
North, DavidAdp of the SNFIndividual07/24/2025

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.

  1. 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."
  2. 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."
  3. 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."
  4. 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."
  5. 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.
  6. How long has the current administrator been here?CMS counts 1 administrator who left in the period it measured.

Other nursing homes nearby

Iowa contacts for a concern about a nursing home

These are the official offices in Iowa. NursingHomeClear cannot take or act on complaints.

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

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