The Alverno Health Care Facility
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
The Alverno Health Care Facility has a Trust Grade of C+, indicating it is slightly above average, but still not ideal. It ranks #233 out of 392 nursing homes in Iowa, which places it in the bottom half of facilities in the state, and it is the lowest-ranked option in Clinton County. Unfortunately, the facility's performance is worsening, with the number of identified issues increasing from 7 in 2024 to 9 in 2025. Staffing is a strong point, receiving a 5 out of 5 rating with a turnover rate of 32%, which is well below the state average. However, the facility has faced some concerning incidents, such as failing to maintain a clean kitchen, which poses a risk for foodborne illness, and not properly labeling food, leading to potential expiration issues. Balancing these factors shows the facility has dedicated staff but faces significant challenges that families should consider.
- Trust Score
- C+
- In Iowa
- #233/392
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 32% turnover. Near Iowa's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ○ Average
- $9,750 in fines. Higher than 72% of Iowa facilities. Some compliance issues.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 42 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for Iowa. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 17 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (32%)
16 points below Iowa average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Iowa average (3.1)
Meets federal standards, typical of most facilities
14pts below Iowa avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
Below median ($33,413)
Minor penalties assessed
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 17 deficiencies on record
Aug 2025
4 deficiencies
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
Quality of Care
(Tag F0684)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on clinical record review, policy review, and staff and physician interviews, the facility failed to assess a resident's v...
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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
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on clinical record review, policy review, and staff interviews, the facility failed to complete a root-cause analysis for ...
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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
Pharmacy Services
(Tag F0755)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, clinical record review, pharmacy record review, pharmacy consultant interview, and staff interview, the facility failed to have safeguards and systems in place to control, accoun...
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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 F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, clinical record review, pharmacy record review, facility policy review and staff interviews, the facility failed to prevent unauthorized access to the keys to Schedule II narcoti...
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Feb 2025
5 deficiencies
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
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and record review the facility failed to ensure a resident's transfer from chair to bed was completed in a safe manner for 1 of 3 residents observed for transfers (Res...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Pharmacy Services
(Tag F0755)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, clinical record review, and staff interviews, the facility failed to ensure an insulin pens was primed an...
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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
Based on observations, clinical record review, nurse competency checklist and staff interviews, the facility failed to perform the infection control practices of hand hygiene and cleaning the hub of a...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Medication Errors
(Tag F0758)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** 4. The MDS assessment dated [DATE] revealed Resident #60 scored 13 out of 15 on the BIMS, which indicated intact cognition. The ...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, food storage guidelines, and staff interviews the facility failed to label food, indicate the opened/prepared date of an item, and dispose of food kept beyond the expiration date...
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May 2024
6 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Investigate Abuse
(Tag F0610)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on clinical record review, staff interview, resident interview, and resident handbook review, the facility failed to implement their policy when the Administrator implemented a grievance resolut...
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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 record review and staff interviews the facility failed to ensure 1 of 1 residents newly admitted to the facility Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) accurately reflected his ad...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Medication Errors
(Tag F0758)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on record review and staff interview the facility failed to ensure 1 of 1 residents as needed (PRN) anti-psychotic medication was reviewed by his Primary Care Provider (PCP) every 14 days or dis...
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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
Deficiency F0725
(Tag F0725)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, resident interviews, staff interviews, and policy review the facility failed to respond to resident's needs within the required fifteen minute time frame when residents activated...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Pharmacy Services
(Tag F0755)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interviews, and policy review the facility failed to ensure medications were disposed of in a safe, secure manner. Facility staff missed the medication cup with two pills and dis...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on record review, observations, and staff interviews the facility failed to ensure a hand-washing sink was present in 3 of 3 laundry rooms that contained washers and dryers that staff used to tr...
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Feb 2024
1 deficiency
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 observations, Kitchen Cleaning Schedule review, and staff interviews, the facility failed to properly maintain a clean kitchen for food preparation, storage and serving to prevent food borne ...
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Mar 2023
1 deficiency
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, policy review and staff interviews the facility failed to complete hand hygiene during resident care and while completing Medication Administration for 3 of 7 residents in the sa...
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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 major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • 32% turnover. Below Iowa's 48% average. Good staff retention means consistent care.
- • 17 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
About This Facility
What is The Alverno Health Care Facility's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns The Alverno Health Care Facility an overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars, which is considered average nationally. Within Iowa, this rating places the facility higher than 0% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This mid-range rating indicates the facility meets federal standards but may have areas for improvement.
How is The Alverno Health Care Facility Staffed?
CMS rates The Alverno Health Care Facility's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 32%, compared to the Iowa average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at The Alverno Health Care Facility?
State health inspectors documented 17 deficiencies at The Alverno Health Care Facility during 2023 to 2025. These included: 17 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates The Alverno Health Care Facility?
The Alverno Health Care Facility is owned by a non-profit organization. Non-profit facilities reinvest revenue into operations rather than distributing to shareholders. The facility is operated by TRINITY HEALTH, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 112 certified beds and approximately 85 residents (about 76% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in Clinton, Iowa.
How Does The Alverno Health Care Facility Compare to Other Iowa Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Iowa, The Alverno Health Care Facility's overall rating (3 stars) is below the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (32%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (2 stars) is below the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting The Alverno Health Care Facility?
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 The Alverno Health Care Facility Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, The Alverno Health Care Facility 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 3-star overall rating and ranks #100 of 100 nursing homes in Iowa. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at The Alverno Health Care Facility Stick Around?
The Alverno Health Care Facility has a staff turnover rate of 32%, which is about average for Iowa 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 The Alverno Health Care Facility Ever Fined?
The Alverno Health Care Facility has been fined $9,750 across 1 penalty action. This is below the Iowa average of $33,176. 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 The Alverno Health Care Facility on Any Federal Watch List?
The Alverno Health Care Facility 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.