Hawkeye Care Center Dubuque
5575 Pennsylvania Avenue, Asbury, IA 52002 · Dubuque County · (563) 583-6447
80 certified beds, about 74 residents a day · For profit - Limited Liability company · Medicare and Medicaid since 2005
Part of a continuing care retirement community Certified for Medicaid Certified for Medicare
Overall
3 of 5
Health inspections
3 of 5
Staffing
3 of 5
Quality measures
3 of 5
CMS Care Compare ratings, data as of September 1, 2026 · CCN 165565 · See it on Medicare.gov · Compare with other homes
The record in brief
At its most recent standard inspection, on September 18, 2025, inspectors cited 3 health deficiencies (the Iowa average is 6.5, the national average 9.2).
Of 10 health citations since May 2024, 1 was rated as actual harm or immediate jeopardy to residents.
CMS lists no fines against this home in the last three years.
Nurses and nurse aides worked 3.33 hours per resident per day, against 3.82 across Iowa and 3.86 nationally. Registered nurses accounted for 0.91 of those hours.
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.
505/24
209/24
309/25
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 10 health citations on file.
Severity
Isolated
Pattern
Widespread
Immediate jeopardy
0J
0K
0L
Actual harm
1G
0H
0I
Potential for more than minimal harm
5D
2E
2F
Potential for minimal harm
0A
0B
0C
September 18, 2025Standard inspection · 3 citations
- F Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
Inspectors wroteBased on staff interviews, facility record review and facility policy review the facility failed to ensure an effective Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) process to address previously identified quality deficiencies, resulting in repeated deficiencies cited on the current survey and cited in previous surveys. The facility reported a census of 71 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 observation, record review, interviews, and policy review the facility failed to update a resident's code status change in a timely manner to ensure their right to refuse medical treatment was respected for 1 of 3 residents reviewed (Resident #5). The facility reported a census of 71 residents.
- D Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Inspectors wroteBased on observations, clinical record review, staff and resident interviews and facility policy review the facility failed to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as directed for two out of five residents reviewed (Resident #43 and Resident #66). The facility reported a census of 71 residents. Finings include: 1. The Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) assessment for Resident #66 dated 7/9/25 reflected a score of 15 out of 15, which indicated intact cognition. The Medical Diagnoses list dated 9/17/25, included diagnoses of personal history of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection, pressure ulcer, sepsis, and urinary tract infection (UTI). Review of Hospital Medicine History and Physical paperwork for the resident dated 9/1/25 revealed the following for the resident: [...]
September 12, 2024Standard inspection · 2 citations
- E Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, staff interviews, and policy review the facility failed to use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when laundering soiled items. The facility reported a census of 72 residents.
- D 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, record review, and staff interview the facility failed to update the Care Plan for 1 of 2 residents with a pressure sore (Resident #33) and 1 of 5 residents with psychotropic medications ( Resident # 21). The facility reported a census of 73 residents.
May 2, 2024Standard inspection, Complaint inspection · 5 citations
- G Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Inspectors wroteBased on clinical record review, policy review, and staff and family interviews the facility failed to provide adequate supervision and assistance with transfers which led to a fall that caused a resident harm for 1 of 3 residents reviewed (Resident #29). The facility reported a census of 70 residents.
- F Electronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data.
Inspectors wroteBased on record review and staff interview the facility failed to submit Payroll Based Journaling (PBJ) data to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as required for the quarter of October 1 through December 31, 2023. The facility reported a census of 70 residents.
- E Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, document review and staff interview the facility failed to keep hands off of the drinking rim of cups for 2 of 3 dining rooms observed and failed to contain hair during meal preparation and serving for 2 of 5 staff observed. The facility reported a census of 70 residents.
- D Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Inspectors wroteBased on record review, staff interview and facility policy review the facility failed to notify a family of an area of skin breakdown in 1 of 3 residents reviewed for pressure sores (Resident #16). The facility reported a census of 70 residents.
- D Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Inspectors wroteBased on record review, staff interview and facility policy review the facility failed to follow up with interventions for a skin problem for 1 out of 3 residents with pressure sores (Resident #16). The facility reported a census of 70 residents.
Fire safety inspections
17 fire safety citations on file: 3 on September 18, 2025, 3 on September 12, 2024, 11 on May 2, 2024.
Every fire safety citation17 citations
- F Follow proper procedures when the automatic sprinkler systems was out of service for more than 10 hours.
- F Have restrictions on the use of highly flammable decorations.
- F Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
- F Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
- E Provide exit doors that are held open by devices that will automatically close on the activation of a fire alarm or smoke detector.
- D Have restrictions on the use of portable space heaters.
- F Install a two-hour-resistant firewall separation.
- F Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
- F Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- F Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
- E Use approved construction type or materials.
- E Provide exit doors that are held open by devices that will automatically close on the activation of a fire alarm or smoke detector.
- E Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.
- E Ensure smoke barriers are constructed to a 1 hour fire resistance rating.
- E Ensure that testing and maintenance of electrical equipment is performed.
- D Have properly installed electrical wiring and gas equipment.
- D Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords.
Fines and payment denials
CMS lists no fines or payment denials against this home in the last three years. The national average is 0.9 fines per home.
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) | 3.33 | 3.82 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses | 0.91 | 0.74 | 0.69 |
| All nursing staff on weekends | 3.28 | 3.37 | 3.42 |
| Nurse aides | 2.15 | ||
| Licensed practical nurses | 0.27 | ||
| Nursing staff turnover (share who left in a year) | not reported | 44.0% | 45.8% |
| Registered nurse turnover | not reported | 42.1% | 42.9% |
| Administrators who left | 1 |
CMS expects 3.54 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 3.35 on weekdays and 3.28 on weekends, 2% lower on weekends (nationally, weekends ran 15% lower). Contract or agency staff worked 0.0% of nursing hours, against 5.3% nationally. Total nursing hours per resident went from 3.84 in April to June 2025 to 3.33 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 | 3.33 | 0.91 | 3.35 | 3.28 | 0.0% | 0 of 90 | 74 |
| Oct to Dec 2025 | 3.60 | 1.09 | 3.74 | 3.25 | 1.7% | 0 of 92 | 74 |
| Jul to Sep 2025 | 3.82 | 1.08 | 3.97 | 3.44 | 1.6% | 0 of 92 | 74 |
| Apr to Jun 2025 | 3.84 | 1.03 | 3.99 | 3.48 | 2.8% | 0 of 91 | 70 |
| 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 | 23.2 | 17.1 | 13.9 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 0.8 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 3.0 | 2.4 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 2.5 | 3.8 | 3.2 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication Short Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 28.7 | 16.6 | 14.1 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 1.9 | 4.2 | 4.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 5.2 | 19.4 | 15.4 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 30.1 | 20.9 | 23.8 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 13.8 | 13.2 | 12.0 |
| Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.9 |
| Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 1.8 |
Owners and operators
Legal business name: HAWKEYE CARE CENTER OF DUBUQUE LLC.
| Name | Role | Type | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elsesser, Brian | Direct ownership interest | Individual | 09/29/2002 | |
| Elsesser, Michelle | Direct ownership interest | Individual | 01/20/2006 | |
| Hamm, Doris | Direct ownership interest | Individual | 01/01/2024 | |
| Hamm, Michael | Direct ownership interest | Individual | 01/01/2024 | |
| Johnson, Douglas | Direct ownership interest | Individual | 01/20/2006 | |
| Johnson, Kelly | Direct ownership interest | Individual | 01/20/2006 | |
| LTC Accounting Services, LLC | Operational/managerial control | Organization | 07/01/2020 | |
| Premier Senior Management LLC | Operational/managerial control | Organization | 09/01/2020 | |
| Reliant Rehabilitation Holdings Inc | Operational/managerial control | Organization | 07/01/2023 | |
| Williams & Company PC | Operational/managerial control | Organization | 01/01/2023 | |
| Long, Tracey | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 06/14/2021 | |
| Runde, Mark | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 01/01/2020 | |
| LTC Accounting Services, LLC | Adp of the SNF | Organization | 06/24/2025 | |
| Premier Senior Management LLC | Adp of the SNF | Organization | 06/25/2025 | |
| Williams & Company PC | Adp of the SNF | Organization | 06/24/2025 | |
| Elsesser, Brian | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 01/01/2024 | |
| Elsesser, Michelle | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 01/01/2024 | |
| Hamm, Doris | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 01/01/2024 | |
| Hamm, Michael | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 01/01/2020 | |
| Johnson, Douglas | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 01/01/2024 | |
| Johnson, Kelly | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 01/20/2006 | |
| Long, Tracey | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 06/14/2021 | |
| Runde, Mark | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 01/01/2020 |
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.
- Who is the administrator and director of nursing, and how long have they been in the job?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on September 18, 2025: "Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities."
- How do residents and families raise a complaint or grievance, and how fast is it answered?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on September 18, 2025: "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."
- What changed in infection control since the last inspection, and who on staff is the infection preventionist?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on September 18, 2025: "Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program."
- How do you prevent falls and pressure injuries, and how are families told when one happens?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on May 2, 2024: "Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents."
- Who is on the floor on Saturday and Sunday, and how many residents does each aide care for?Weekend nurse staffing here was 3.28 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
- Grand Meadows Senior Living & Health Care Asbury, 0.9 mi · 2 of 5 stars · 20 citations
- Ennoble Nursing and Rehab Dubuque, 2.1 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 2 citations
- Luther Manor at Hillcrest Dubuque, 2.3 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 24 citations
- Dubuque Specialty Care Dubuque, 2.8 mi · 2 of 5 stars · 23 citations
- Harmony Dubuque Dubuque, 4.4 mi · 2 of 5 stars · 28 citations
- Stonehill Care Center Dubuque, 5.1 mi · 4 of 5 stars · 4 citations
- Bethany Home Dubuque, 5.2 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 1 citation
- Mount Carmel Bluffs Dubuque, 5.6 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 7 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 Hawkeye Care Center Dubuque's Medicare star rating?
- CMS rates Hawkeye Care Center Dubuque 3 out of 5 stars overall, with 3 for health inspections, 3 for staffing and 3 for quality measures (CMS data as of September 1, 2026).
- How many deficiencies did Hawkeye Care Center Dubuque get at its last inspection?
- 3 health deficiencies at the standard inspection on September 18, 2025. The Iowa average is 6.5.
- Has Hawkeye Care Center Dubuque been fined?
- CMS lists no fines in the last three years.
- Does Hawkeye Care Center Dubuque 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 Hawkeye Care Center Dubuque?
- CMS lists 23 owners and managers. Legal business name: HAWKEYE CARE CENTER OF DUBUQUE 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.