Mount Carmel Bluffs
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Mount Carmel Bluffs has earned an impressive Trust Grade of A+, indicating it is an elite facility in terms of care quality. It ranks #53 out of 392 nursing homes in Iowa, placing it in the top half of all facilities in the state, and #6 of 12 in Dubuque County, meaning there are only a few local options that are slightly better. The facility's performance trend is stable, with six issues identified in recent inspections, which has not worsened over time. Staffing is a strong point, with a perfect 5/5 rating and a low turnover rate of 21%, significantly better than the state average of 44%. Furthermore, they enjoy good RN coverage, exceeding 91% of Iowa facilities, which helps catch potential problems early. However, there were some concerns noted, such as hazardous items being left unattended in common areas and instances of staff not treating residents with the dignity they deserve. These issues highlight areas for improvement, even while the overall quality of care remains high.
- Trust Score
- A+
- In Iowa
- #53/392
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Holding Steady
- Staff Stability ✓ Good
- 21% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 27 points below Iowa's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Iowa facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 77 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of Iowa 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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Low Staff Turnover (21%) · Staff stability means consistent care
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
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No fines on record
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Staff turnover is low (21%)
27 points below Iowa average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, staff retention, fire safety.
The Bad
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 6 deficiencies on record
Jul 2025
3 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
Resident Rights
(Tag F0550)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, clinical record review, resident interview, staff interview and review of the facilities Resident's Rights form revealed the staff failed to treat 2 out of 3 residents with digni...
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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
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 observations, clinical record review, staff interview and facility policy review, the facility failed to complete an ad...
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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
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, clinical record review, staff interview and facility policy review, the facility failed to assure all resi...
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Apr 2024
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0658
(Tag F0658)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, clinical record review, policy review, and staff interview the facility failed to follow professional stan...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Menu Adequacy
(Tag F0803)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, policy review, and staff interview the facility failed to measure pureed food volumes and to use the correct serving scoops to ensure resident nutritional needs were met. The fac...
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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
During an observation of the puree preparation on 4/02/24 at 10:04 AM Staff D, Dietary [NAME] placed a spatula on the page in a binder. She then used the spatula to scrape pureed food out of the blend...
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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+ (95/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Iowa.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Iowa facilities.
- • 21% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 27 points below Iowa's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Mount Carmel Bluffs's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Mount Carmel Bluffs an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Iowa, 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 Mount Carmel Bluffs Staffed?
CMS rates Mount Carmel Bluffs's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 21%, compared to the Iowa average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Mount Carmel Bluffs?
State health inspectors documented 6 deficiencies at Mount Carmel Bluffs during 2024 to 2025. These included: 6 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Mount Carmel Bluffs?
Mount Carmel Bluffs 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 PRESBYTERIAN HOMES & SERVICES, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 60 certified beds and approximately 51 residents (about 85% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Dubuque, Iowa.
How Does Mount Carmel Bluffs Compare to Other Iowa Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Iowa, Mount Carmel Bluffs's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (21%) 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 Mount Carmel Bluffs?
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 Mount Carmel Bluffs Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Mount Carmel Bluffs 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 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 Mount Carmel Bluffs Stick Around?
Staff at Mount Carmel Bluffs tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 21%, the facility is 24 percentage points below the Iowa 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. Registered Nurse turnover is also low at 8%, meaning experienced RNs are available to handle complex medical needs.
Was Mount Carmel Bluffs Ever Fined?
Mount Carmel Bluffs 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 Mount Carmel Bluffs on Any Federal Watch List?
Mount Carmel Bluffs 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.