BIRCHWOOD PLAZA
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Birchwood Plaza has received a Trust Grade of B, indicating it is a good choice for families, as it falls within the solid range of performance. Ranked #120 out of 665 facilities in Illinois, it stands in the top half, and #40 out of 201 in Cook County, meaning there are only a few local homes that perform better. The facility is improving, having reduced its issues from 11 in 2024 to 8 in 2025. Staffing is a weak point with a rating of 2 out of 5, but a turnover rate of 24% is good compared to the state average of 46%. There have been no fines, which is a positive sign, and it has average RN coverage, ensuring some oversight in resident care. However, there are notable concerns from recent inspections. A serious finding involved a resident requiring two-person assistance for transfers but being moved by only one staff member, which poses a risk for falls. There were also issues with food safety practices, such as not labeling food items properly and failing to discard expired items, which could affect all residents. Lastly, sanitation practices were found lacking, with uncovered dumpsters potentially attracting pests, which is a significant concern for overall hygiene. Overall, while there are strengths in safety and care, these weaknesses need addressing to enhance resident well-being.
- Trust Score
- B
- In Illinois
- #120/665
- Safety Record
- Moderate
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ✓ Good
- 24% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 24 points below Illinois's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Illinois facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 42 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for Illinois. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 28 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
Low Staff Turnover (24%) · Staff stability means consistent care
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover is low (24%)
24 points below Illinois average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staff retention, fire safety.
The Bad
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 28 deficiencies on record
Apr 2025
8 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
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** Findings include:
On 3/31/25 at 1:00 PM, R76's records were reviewed for PASARR 2 screening related to her MDS indicator of No P...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0645
(Tag F0645)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure a resident's psych diagnoses were included in the pre-admission screening. This failure affected 1 (R109) resident reviewed for accu...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
ADL Care
(Tag F0677)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** On 3/31/25 at 11:10am and again at 11:45am, during observation of residents on the first floor, R44 was observed awake in bed wi...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Tube Feeding
(Tag F0693)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure that a resident ordered for Enteral g-tube (ga...
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CONCERN
(D)
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 observation, interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure that staff perform hand hygiene during resident...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Resident Rights
(Tag F0550)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure that staff are feeding residents from a seated ...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to provide fall prevention interventions for residents who are at risk for falls and failed to ensure that residents at risk for...
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0912
(Tag F0912)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
Based on interviews, and record reviews, the facility failed to provide the required square footage of 80 square feet per resident for multiple resident bedrooms for 19 (111, 113, 114, 115, 116, 118, ...
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Dec 2024
2 deficiencies
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
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview, and record review the facility failed to ensure that medication cart, treatment cart with residents' medication was not left un-attended and unlocked when not in the v...
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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
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and record review the facility failed to prevent co-mingling of dented food cans with undented ...
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Mar 2024
9 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Resident Rights
(Tag F0550)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview and record review the facility failed to ensure a resident was treated with respect and dignity by not passing out meals to residents sitting together at the same time ...
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CONCERN
(D)
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 interview and record reviews the facility failed to refer one (R44) resident with newly evident or possible serious men...
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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
Based on observation, interviews and records review, the facility failed to change oxygen tubing and humidifier bottle weekly according to facility policy and failed to obtain a physicians order to co...
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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
Based on observation, interview and review of records, facility failed to ensure expired medications are discarded from the medication cart for 2 (R57, R42) out of three residents reviewed for expired...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0813
(Tag F0813)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview and record review the facility failed to date food items and discard expired food items in resident personal refrigerator for 1 (R118) resident reviewed in the sample o...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interviews and records review, the facility failed to maintain infection prevention protocols for one (R110) resident on contact precautions by not wearing proper personal protec...
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CONCERN
(F)
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 observations, interviews, and record reviews, the facility failed to ensure food items were labeled, discard expired food items, label dry storage items with a delivery date to ensure first-i...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Garbage Disposal
(Tag F0814)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observation, interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure dumpster was covered to prevent the harborage and feeding of pests, insects, and rodents. This deficient sanitation pra...
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0912
(Tag F0912)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
Based on observations, interview and record review, the facility failed to provide the required 80 square feet per bed for 19 resident's rooms out 86 rooms in the facility. This failure has the potent...
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Sept 2023
1 deficiency
1 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
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
A resident was harmed · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and record review the facility failed to properly transfer a resident (R2) who is totally dependent on staff ...
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Jun 2023
8 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0578
(Tag F0578)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on interviews, and record reviews the facility failed to ensure or establish mechanisms for documenting and communicating to interdisciplinary team regarding code status. This failure has the po...
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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
Based on observations, interviews, and record reviews the facility failed to follow policy for oxygen therapy to ensure that oxygen nasal tubing and humidifier be changed weekly and when oxygen tubing...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0808
(Tag F0808)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations, interviews, and record reviews the facility failed to follow policy for residents on aspiration precautions to ensure that prescribed type of liquid consistency must be followed...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0810
(Tag F0810)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, interviews, and record review the facility failed to provide adaptive feeding equipment for 1 (R104) of 6...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Resident Rights
(Tag F0550)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observations, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure residents (R15, R47, R50, R55) were treated with dignity and serve meals at the same time for 4 of 14 residents revie...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observations, interviews, and record reviews the facility failed to a.) discard expired medications from medication cart for three (R72, R88, R112) residents and b.) ensure that medications a...
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CONCERN
(F)
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 observations, interviews, and record reviews the facility failed to follow their policy and procedure for food and supply storage to ensure foods in the main cooler were discarded after the e...
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0912
(Tag F0912)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
Based on observations, interview and record review, the facility failed to provide the required 80 square feet per bed for 20 resident's rooms out 196 rooms in the facility. This failure has the poten...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Illinois facilities.
- • 24% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 24 points below Illinois's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- • 28 deficiencies on record, including 1 serious (caused harm) violation. Ask about corrective actions taken.
About This Facility
What is Birchwood Plaza's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns BIRCHWOOD PLAZA an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which is considered above average nationally. Within Illinois, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.
How is Birchwood Plaza Staffed?
CMS rates BIRCHWOOD PLAZA's staffing level at 2 out of 5 stars, which is below average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 24%, compared to the Illinois average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Birchwood Plaza?
State health inspectors documented 28 deficiencies at BIRCHWOOD PLAZA during 2023 to 2025. These included: 1 that caused actual resident harm, 24 with potential for harm, and 3 minor or isolated issues. Deficiencies causing actual harm indicate documented cases where residents experienced negative health consequences.
Who Owns and Operates Birchwood Plaza?
BIRCHWOOD PLAZA is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility is operated by MARQUIS HEALTH SERVICES, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 200 certified beds and approximately 148 residents (about 74% occupancy), it is a large facility located in CHICAGO, Illinois.
How Does Birchwood Plaza Compare to Other Illinois Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Illinois, BIRCHWOOD PLAZA's overall rating (4 stars) is above the state average of 2.5, staff turnover (24%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Birchwood Plaza?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can you walk me through typical staffing levels on day, evening, and night shifts?" "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 below-average staffing rating.
Is Birchwood Plaza Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, BIRCHWOOD PLAZA 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 4-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Illinois. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Birchwood Plaza Stick Around?
Staff at BIRCHWOOD PLAZA tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 24%, the facility is 22 percentage points below the Illinois average of 46%. Low turnover is a positive sign. It means caregivers have time to learn each resident's needs, medications, and personal preferences. Consistent staff also notice subtle changes in a resident's condition more quickly.
Was Birchwood Plaza Ever Fined?
BIRCHWOOD PLAZA has no federal fines on record. CMS issues fines when nursing homes fail to meet care standards or don't correct problems found during inspections. The absence of fines suggests the facility has either maintained compliance or corrected any issues before penalties were assessed. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review recent inspection reports for the full picture.
Is Birchwood Plaza on Any Federal Watch List?
BIRCHWOOD PLAZA 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.