VALLEY VISTA CARE CENTER OF ST MARIES
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Valley Vista Care Center of St. Maries has received a Trust Grade of F, indicating significant concerns about the quality of care provided, which is poor compared to other facilities. It ranks #67 out of 79 nursing homes in Idaho, placing it in the bottom half of all facilities, although it is the only option in Benewah County. The facility appears to be improving, as it has reduced issues from 14 in 2023 to none in 2024. Staffing is a relative strength with a 4/5 star rating, but the turnover rate is concerning at 62%, which is higher than the state average. However, the facility has faced serious problems, including failure to administer medications properly and not thoroughly investigating allegations of abuse, which raises significant red flags for potential resident care issues.
- Trust Score
- F
- In Idaho
- #67/79
- Safety Record
- High Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 62% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- $43,843 in fines. Lower than most Idaho facilities. Relatively clean record.
- Skilled Nurses ○ Average
- Each resident gets 34 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — about average for Idaho. RNs are the most trained staff who monitor for health changes.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 26 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
4-Star Staffing Rating · Above-average nurse staffing levels
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, fire safety.
The Bad
Below Idaho average (3.3)
Below average - review inspection findings carefully
16pts above Idaho avg (46%)
Frequent staff changes - ask about care continuity
Above median ($33,413)
Moderate penalties - review what triggered them
14 points above Idaho average of 48%
The Ugly 26 deficiencies on record
Dec 2023
14 deficiencies
3 Harm
SERIOUS
(G)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Actual Harm - a resident was hurt due to facility failures
Free from Abuse/Neglect
(Tag F0600)
A resident was harmed · This affected 1 resident
3. A facility reported incident, dated 2/16/22, documented RN #2 neglected to administer medications to Resident #5, Resident #36, and Resident #299.
The facility's incident report, dated 2/16/22, doc...
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SERIOUS
(G)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Actual Harm - a resident was hurt due to facility failures
Investigate Abuse
(Tag F0610)
A resident was harmed · This affected 1 resident
Based on policy review, record review, review of the State Survey Agency's Long-Term Care Reporting Portal, and staff interview, it was determined the facility failed to ensure allegations of abuse we...
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SERIOUS
(G)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Actual Harm - a resident was hurt due to facility failures
Quality of Care
(Tag F0684)
A resident was harmed · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review, and staff interview, the facility failed to ensure resident-centered care and treatment wer...
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CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Notification of Changes
(Tag F0580)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and staff interview, it was determined the facility failed to ensure a resident's representative and phys...
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CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
PASARR Coordination
(Tag F0644)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, policy review, and resident staff interview, it was determined the facility failed to ensure a Level I P...
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CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0657
(Tag F0657)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review, policy review and resident and staff interview, it was determined the facility failed to en...
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CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0699
(Tag F0699)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on resident and staff interview, record review, and facility policy review, it was determined the facility failed to asses...
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CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on policy review, observation, and staff interview, it was determined the facility failed to ensure infection control and ...
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CONCERN
(E)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Report Alleged Abuse
(Tag F0609)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of the State Agency's Long Term Care Reporting Portal, record review, incident reports, and staff interview, it ...
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CONCERN
(F)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0727
(Tag F0727)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on facility document review and staff interview, it was determined the facility failed to ensure they employed an RN as the full-time DNS. The failure to have a full-time RN/DNS placed residents...
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CONCERN
(F)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observation, policy review, and staff interview, it was determined the facility failed to ensure food items were dated and labeled and hygiene practices followed. This failure had the potenti...
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CONCERN
(F)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Administration
(Tag F0835)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on interview and document review, it was determined the facility's administration failed to ensure a full-time DNS was on staff. This failure had the potential to affect the care of the 44 resid...
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CONCERN
(F)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Staffing Data
(Tag F0851)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on staff interview and document review, it was determined the facility failed to report accurate Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) information for the facility as required for a census of 44 residents...
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CONCERN
(F)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0943
(Tag F0943)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on record review, policy review, and staff interview, it was determined the facility failed to ensure employees were trained on abuse. This was true for 43 of 79 employees whose records were rev...
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Jan 2019
12 deficiencies
2 Harm
SERIOUS
(G)
Actual Harm - a resident was hurt due to facility failures
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
A resident was harmed · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on staff interview, policy review, and record review, it was determined the facility failed to ensure adequate supervision...
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SERIOUS
(G)
Actual Harm - a resident was hurt due to facility failures
Deficiency F0697
(Tag F0697)
A resident was harmed · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, policy review, resident and staff interview, and record review, it was determined the facility failed to e...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Report Alleged Abuse
(Tag F0609)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on staff interview, record review, policy review, and review of Incident and Accident reports, it was determined the facil...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Investigate Abuse
(Tag F0610)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on staff interview, record review, Incident and Accident (I&A) report review, and policy review, it was determined the fac...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Comprehensive Assessments
(Tag F0636)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on staff interview and record review, it was determined the facility failed to ensure the MDS was completed timely for 1 o...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Comprehensive Care Plan
(Tag F0656)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** 2. Resident #21 was admitted to the facility on [DATE], with multiple diagnoses which included stroke with left hemiplegia (para...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0657
(Tag F0657)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and staff interview, it was determined the facility failed to ensure residents' care plans were revised a...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0679
(Tag F0679)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, staff and resident interview, policy review, and Activity Calendar review, it was determined the facility ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Respiratory Care
(Tag F0695)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, staff interview, and record review, it was determined the facility failed to ensure residents received res...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Unnecessary Medications
(Tag F0759)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, staff interview, and record review, it was determined the facility failed to ensure medication error rate was less than 5%. This was true for 2 of 30 medications (6.67%) which af...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation and staff interview, it was determined the facility failed to ensure pharmacy labels matched the physician'...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0688
(Tag F0688)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, resident and staff interview, policy review, and record review, it was determined the facility failed to e...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Why is there high staff turnover? How do you retain staff?"
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • Licensed and certified facility. Meets minimum state requirements.
- • Multiple safety concerns identified: 5 harm violation(s), $43,843 in fines. Review inspection reports carefully.
- • 26 deficiencies on record, including 5 serious (caused harm) violations. Ask about corrective actions taken.
- • $43,843 in fines. Higher than 94% of Idaho facilities, suggesting repeated compliance issues.
- • Grade F (15/100). Below average facility with significant concerns.
About This Facility
What is Valley Vista Of St Maries's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns VALLEY VISTA CARE CENTER OF ST MARIES an overall rating of 2 out of 5 stars, which is considered below average nationally. Within Idaho, this rating places the facility higher than 0% of the state's 100 nursing homes. A rating at this level reflects concerns identified through health inspections, staffing assessments, or quality measures that families should carefully consider.
How is Valley Vista Of St Maries Staffed?
CMS rates VALLEY VISTA CARE CENTER OF ST MARIES's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 62%, which is 16 percentage points above the Idaho average of 46%. High turnover can affect care consistency as new staff learn residents' individual needs.
What Have Inspectors Found at Valley Vista Of St Maries?
State health inspectors documented 26 deficiencies at VALLEY VISTA CARE CENTER OF ST MARIES during 2019 to 2023. These included: 5 that caused actual resident harm and 21 with potential for harm. Deficiencies causing actual harm indicate documented cases where residents experienced negative health consequences.
Who Owns and Operates Valley Vista Of St Maries?
VALLEY VISTA CARE CENTER OF ST MARIES is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 74 certified beds and approximately 47 residents (about 64% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in ST MARIES, Idaho.
How Does Valley Vista Of St Maries Compare to Other Idaho Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Idaho, VALLEY VISTA CARE CENTER OF ST MARIES's overall rating (2 stars) is below the state average of 3.3, staff turnover (62%) is significantly higher than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (2 stars) is below the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Valley Vista Of St Maries?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "How do you ensure continuity of care given staff turnover, and what is your staff retention strategy?" "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?" These questions are particularly relevant given the facility's high staff turnover rate.
Is Valley Vista Of St Maries Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, VALLEY VISTA CARE CENTER OF ST MARIES has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 2-star overall rating and ranks #100 of 100 nursing homes in Idaho. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Valley Vista Of St Maries Stick Around?
Staff turnover at VALLEY VISTA CARE CENTER OF ST MARIES is high. At 62%, the facility is 16 percentage points above the Idaho average of 46%. High turnover means new staff may not know residents' individual needs, medications, or preferences. It can also be disorienting for residents, especially those with dementia who rely on familiar faces. Families should ask: What is causing the turnover? What retention programs are in place? How do you ensure care continuity during staff transitions?
Was Valley Vista Of St Maries Ever Fined?
VALLEY VISTA CARE CENTER OF ST MARIES has been fined $43,843 across 1 penalty action. The Idaho average is $33,517. While any fine indicates a compliance issue, fines under $50,000 are relatively common and typically reflect isolated problems that were subsequently corrected. Families should ask what specific issues led to these fines and confirm they've been resolved.
Is Valley Vista Of St Maries on Any Federal Watch List?
VALLEY VISTA CARE CENTER OF ST MARIES is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.