MERCY HARVARD HOSPITAL CARE CENTER
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Mercy Harvard Hospital Care Center has received an excellent Trust Grade of A, indicating a high level of care and positive reputation among residents and families. It ranks #64 out of 665 facilities in Illinois, placing it in the top half, and is the best option among the ten nursing homes in McHenry County. However, the facility's trend is worsening, with the number of identified issues increasing from 2 in 2023 to 3 in 2024. Staffing is a strength, with a perfect 5-star rating and a turnover rate of 41%, which is below the state average of 46%, meaning staff members are likely to remain and build relationships with residents. Notably, there have been no fines, and the facility boasts more RN coverage than 98% of other Illinois homes, ensuring that residents receive consistent and attentive medical care. However, there are areas of concern, such as failure to properly flush the water system to prevent Legionella bacteria and inadequate supervision of residents with swallowing difficulties, which could pose risks to their health and safety. Additionally, there was an incident where a resident's medication was not properly administered, leading to potential health risks. Overall, while the facility has many strengths, families should be aware of these specific concerns when considering this nursing home.
- Trust Score
- A
- In Illinois
- #64/665
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 41% turnover. Near Illinois's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Illinois facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 138 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of Illinois nursing homes. RNs are the most trained staff who catch health problems before they become serious.
- Violations ○ Average
- 6 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
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4-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (41%)
7 points below Illinois average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Illinois avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 6 deficiencies on record
Apr 2024
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
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 a resident with a history of dysphagia was super...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0760
(Tag F0760)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview and record review the facility failed to ensure resident's received significant medications as ordered by the physician. This applies to 1 of 6 residents (R5) reviewed ...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview and record review the facility failed to ensure the water system was flushed to prevent Legionna...
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Jun 2023
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Pressure Ulcer Prevention
(Tag F0686)
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 pressure related skin changes were reported an...
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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, interview and record review the facility failed to ensure oxygen equipment was changed weekly for 1 of 2 residents (R7) reviewed for oxygen administration in the sample of 11.
T...
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Apr 2022
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
ADL Care
(Tag F0677)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to provide incontinence care for 1 of 1 residents (R3) reviewed for incontinence care in the sample of 12.
The findings include:...
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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
- • Grade A (90/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Illinois.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Illinois facilities.
- • 41% turnover. Below Illinois's 48% average. Good staff retention means consistent care.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Mercy Harvard Hospital's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns MERCY HARVARD HOSPITAL CARE CENTER an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much 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 Mercy Harvard Hospital Staffed?
CMS rates MERCY HARVARD HOSPITAL CARE CENTER's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 41%, compared to the Illinois average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Mercy Harvard Hospital?
State health inspectors documented 6 deficiencies at MERCY HARVARD HOSPITAL CARE CENTER during 2022 to 2024. These included: 6 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Mercy Harvard Hospital?
MERCY HARVARD HOSPITAL CARE CENTER 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 MERCYHEALTH SYSTEM, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 34 certified beds and approximately 20 residents (about 59% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in HARVARD, Illinois.
How Does Mercy Harvard Hospital Compare to Other Illinois Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Illinois, MERCY HARVARD HOSPITAL CARE CENTER's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 2.5, staff turnover (41%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Mercy Harvard Hospital?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "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?"
Is Mercy Harvard Hospital Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, MERCY HARVARD HOSPITAL CARE CENTER 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 5-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 Mercy Harvard Hospital Stick Around?
MERCY HARVARD HOSPITAL CARE CENTER has a staff turnover rate of 41%, which is about average for Illinois nursing homes (state average: 46%). Moderate turnover is common in nursing homes, but families should still ask about staff tenure and how the facility maintains care continuity when employees leave.
Was Mercy Harvard Hospital Ever Fined?
MERCY HARVARD HOSPITAL CARE CENTER 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 Mercy Harvard Hospital on Any Federal Watch List?
MERCY HARVARD HOSPITAL CARE CENTER 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.