Mercy Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility
55 Melroy Avenue, Lackawanna, NY 14218 · Erie County · (716) 819-5300
84 certified beds, about 82 residents a day · Non profit - Corporation · Medicare and Medicaid since 1970
CMS Care Compare ratings, data as of September 1, 2026 · CCN 335308 · See it on Medicare.gov · Compare with other homes
The record in brief
At its most recent standard inspection, on July 24, 2025, inspectors cited 3 health deficiencies (the New York average is 8.1, the national average 9.2).
None of its 4 health citations since July 2022 was rated as actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
CMS lists no fines against this home in the last three years.
Nurses and nurse aides worked 4.68 hours per resident per day, against 3.63 across New York and 3.86 nationally. Registered nurses accounted for 0.65 of those hours.
43.7% of nursing staff left within the year CMS measured (New York average 40.3%).
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 4 health citations on file.
July 24, 2025Standard inspection · 3 citations
- E Try different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, and record review conducted during the Standard survey completed on 7/24/25, the facility did not ensure: they assessed all residents for risk of entrapment from bed rails prior to installation, they reviewed the risks and benefits of bed rails with the resident or resident representative, obtain informed consent prior to installation, or provide documentation that preventive maintenance was conducted for all bed rails for four (4) (Residents #7, 9, 27, and 50) of four (4) residents reviewed. Specifically, the U Rails were loose and not secure (Resident's #27 and #50); lacked evidence of consent and risks verses benefits; and there was no routine preventative maintenance (Resident #7, 9, 27, & 50). In addition, the U-Rails were installed in error (Resident #50) and not reflected on the care plan (Resident #7 and # 50).
- D Ensure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview, observation, and record review conducted during a Standard survey completed on 7/24/25, the facility did not ensure that residents have a right to be treated with respect and dignity, including the right to be free from any physical restraints imposed for purposes of discipline or convenience, and not required to treat the resident's medical symptoms for one (1) (#30) of three (3) residents reviewed. Specifically, there was a lack of risk versus benefit assessments and informed consents for the alarm; the alarm sounded in the room, and Resident #30 was bothered by the use of the alarm and felt undignified.
- D Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, and record review conducted during the Standard survey completed on 7/25/25, the facility did not provide services consistent with professional standards of care during medication administration for three (3) (#1, #20, and #77) of seven (7) residents observed. Specifically, Registered Nurse #2 administered medications that they had not personally prepared to Resident #1, #20, and #77.
February 2, 2024Standard inspection · 0 citations
July 29, 2022Standard inspection · 1 citation
- D Ensure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and record review conducted during the Standard survey started on 7/25/22 completed 7/29/22, the facility did not ensure that each resident's drug regimen is free from unnecessary drugs. An unnecessary drug is any drug when used for excessive duration and without adequate indication for its use. Specifically, one (Resident #29) of five residents reviewed for unnecessary medications was treated with an antibiotic for an excessive duration, without adequate indication for its continued use. The finding is: Review of facility policy and procedure (P&P) titled Antibiotic Stewardship, effective 10/2017, documented the Antibiotic Stewardship Program (ASP) will guide safe, appropriate, effective and responsible use of antibiotic agents. [...]
Fire safety inspections
16 fire safety citations on file: 5 on February 2, 2024, 11 on July 29, 2022.
Every fire safety citation16 citations
- E Have properly located and lighted "Exit" signs.
- E Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.
- E Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- E Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.
- D Have proper medical gas storage and administration areas.
- E Have properly located and lighted "Exit" signs.
- E Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
- E Install an approved automatic sprinkler system.
- E Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- E Properly select, install, inspect, or maintain portable fire extinguishes.
- E Ensure that corridors are separated from use areas by walls constructed to limit the passage of smoke.
- E Ensure smoke barriers are constructed to a 1 hour fire resistance rating.
- E Meet requirements for the installation and maintenance of electrical systems.
- E Ensure that testing and maintenance of electrical equipment is performed.
- D Meet other general requirements.
- D Ensure precautions for handling oxygen cylinders and equipment are correctly followed.
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 | New York | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| All nursing staff (RN, LPN and aides) | 4.68 | 3.63 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses | 0.65 | 0.71 | 0.69 |
| All nursing staff on weekends | 4.03 | 3.18 | 3.42 |
| Nurse aides | 2.75 | ||
| Licensed practical nurses | 1.28 | ||
| Nursing staff turnover (share who left in a year) | 43.7% | 40.3% | 45.8% |
| Registered nurse turnover | 50.0% | 39.8% | 42.9% |
| Administrators who left | 0 |
CMS expects 3.34 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 4.95 on weekdays and 4.03 on weekends, 19% 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 4.74 in April to June 2025 to 4.68 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 | 4.68 | 0.65 | 4.95 | 4.03 | 0.0% | 0 of 90 | 82 |
| Oct to Dec 2025 | 4.70 | 0.58 | 4.89 | 4.23 | 0.0% | 0 of 92 | 82 |
| Jul to Sep 2025 | 4.61 | 0.60 | 4.84 | 4.02 | 0.0% | 0 of 92 | 83 |
| Apr to Jun 2025 | 4.74 | 0.55 | 4.94 | 4.25 | 0.0% | 0 of 91 | 83 |
| United States, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.75 | 0.62 | 3.92 | 3.33 | 5.3% | 0.5% of days | |
| New York, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.55 | 0.68 | 3.72 | 3.13 | 9.8% | 0.1% 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.
Staff pay reports
Staff pay at this home
No staff pay figure for this home has passed review yet. A figure appears only after at least 5 reports from at least 3 different people, sent over at least 60 days, have passed review.
Official wage estimates for New York
| Job | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, all employers | |||
| CNAs (nursing assistants) | $23.36 | $21.04 to $24.99 | 87,990 |
| LPNs and LVNs | $32.30 | $29.52 to $37.00 | 39,400 |
| Registered nurses | $52.62 | $45.60 to $62.34 | 205,810 |
| United States, nursing care facilities | |||
| CNAs (nursing assistants) | $20.67 | $17.91 to $22.55 | 534,270 |
| LPNs and LVNs | $33.86 | $30.05 to $37.40 | 188,210 |
| Registered nurses | $41.11 | $37.85 to $47.68 | 142,270 |
Hourly wages; the middle half runs from the 25th to the 75th percentile. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. BLS has no separate estimate for medication aides. These are survey estimates for whole occupations, not figures for any one home.
Quality measures
The measures CMS uses for the quality star. Lower is better for every one of them.
| Measure | This home | New York | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 14.1 | 14.1 | 13.9 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.8 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 5.0 | 3.1 | 3.2 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 12.6 | 12.5 | 14.1 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 8.1 | 6.5 | 4.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 12.4 | 13.7 | 15.4 |
Owners and operators
Legal business name: MERCY HOSPITAL OF BUFFALO.
| Name | Role | Type | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sette-Camara, Leonardo | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 01/01/2020 | |
| Zapfel, Robert | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 06/19/2014 | |
| O Connor, Patricia | Corporate director | Individual | 06/15/2015 | |
| Osborne, Clayton | Corporate director | Individual | 05/01/2008 | |
| Sette-Camara, Leonardo | Corporate director | Individual | 01/01/2020 | |
| Agnello, Alexis | Corporate officer | Individual | 01/01/2020 | |
| Edwards, Russell | Corporate officer | Individual | 07/01/2020 | |
| Garvey, James | Corporate officer | Individual | 08/01/2020 | |
| Gleason, Thomas | Corporate officer | Individual | 01/01/2020 | |
| Macholz, David | Corporate officer | Individual | 06/19/2014 | |
| Markiewicz, Joyce | Corporate officer | Individual | 09/01/2023 | |
| Zapfel, Robert | Corporate officer | Individual | 06/19/2014 | |
| Edwards, Russell | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 01/01/2020 | |
| Gleason, Thomas | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 01/01/2020 | |
| O Connor, Patricia | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 09/01/2023 | |
| Osborne, Clayton | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 05/01/2008 | |
| Snyder, Brian | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 06/15/2015 | |
| O Connor, Patricia | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 09/01/2023 | |
| Snyder, Brian | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 06/30/2025 |
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 1 problem in this area, most recently on July 24, 2025: "Try different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail."
- How are allegations of abuse or neglect reported and investigated, and who tells the family?Inspectors cited 1 problem in this area, most recently on July 24, 2025: "Ensure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment."
- When is the care plan meeting, and can family attend it?Inspectors cited 1 problem in this area, most recently on July 24, 2025: "Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality."
- How are medications reviewed, and how often are antipsychotic or sedating drugs used?Inspectors cited 1 problem in this area, most recently on July 29, 2022: "Ensure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs."
Other nursing homes nearby
- Safire Rehabilitation of Southtowns, L L C Buffalo, 0.6 mi · 2 of 5 stars · 22 citations
- Seneca Health Care Center West Seneca, 2.1 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 10 citations
- Garden Gate Health Care Facility Cheektowaga, 4.8 mi · 2 of 5 stars · 21 citations
- Highpointe on Michigan Health Care Facility Buffalo, 5.5 mi · 2 of 5 stars · 30 citations
- Ellicott Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Buffalo, 5.6 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 33 citations
- Elderwood at Cheektowaga Cheektowaga, 5.8 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 37 citations
- Fox Run at Orchard Park Orchard Park, 5.9 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 2 citations
- Elderwood at Hamburg Hamburg, 6.1 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 15 citations
New York contacts for a concern about a nursing home
These are the official offices in New York. NursingHomeClear cannot take or act on complaints.
- Inspections and complaints: New York State Department of Health, Nursing Homes, the state agency that inspects nursing homes for CMS and takes complaints about care.
- State inspection reports: NYS Health Profiles: Nursing Homes, where New York publishes its own records on licensed homes.
Common questions
- What is Mercy Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility's Medicare star rating?
- CMS rates Mercy Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 for health inspections, 4 for staffing and 5 for quality measures (CMS data as of September 1, 2026).
- How many deficiencies did Mercy Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility get at its last inspection?
- 3 health deficiencies at the standard inspection on July 24, 2025. The New York average is 8.1.
- Has Mercy Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility been fined?
- CMS lists no fines in the last three years.
- Does Mercy Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility 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 Mercy Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility?
- CMS lists 19 owners and managers. Legal business name: MERCY HOSPITAL OF BUFFALO.
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.