Guttenberg Care Center

1315 Acre Street, Guttenberg, IA 52052 (563) 252-2281
For profit - Limited Liability company 46 Beds LEGACY HEALTHCARE Data: November 2025
Trust Grade
90/100
#31 of 392 in IA
Last Inspection: November 2024

Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.

Overview

Guttenberg Care Center has received an impressive Trust Grade of A, which indicates it is highly recommended and considered excellent among nursing facilities. It ranks #31 out of 392 facilities in Iowa, placing it in the top half, and #3 out of 5 in Clayton County, meaning only two local options are better. The facility is improving, having reduced its issues from two in 2022 to none in 2024, although it has a staffing rating of 3 out of 5, which is average, and RN coverage is concerning as it is lower than 81% of Iowa facilities. Importantly, there have been no fines recorded against the facility, which is a positive sign of compliance. However, past inspections revealed that they failed to conduct quarterly care conferences for a resident, limiting family involvement in care planning, and did not follow insulin pen protocols for medication administration, which could impact safety. Overall, while the facility has strengths in quality and compliance, families should be aware of the need for improvement in resident care participation and adherence to medication protocols.

Trust Score
A
90/100
In Iowa
#31/392
Top 7%
Safety Record
Low Risk
No red flags
Inspections
Getting Better
2 → 0 violations
Staff Stability
○ Average
36% turnover. Near Iowa's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
Penalties
✓ Good
No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Iowa facilities.
Skilled Nurses
○ Average
Each resident gets 30 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — about average for Iowa. RNs are the most trained staff who monitor for health changes.
Violations
✓ Good
Only 2 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
★★★★★
5.0
Overall Rating
★★★☆☆
3.0
Staff Levels
★★☆☆☆
2.0
Care Quality
★★★★★
5.0
Inspection Score
Stable
2022: 2 issues
2024: 0 issues

The Good

  • Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
  • No fines on record
  • Staff turnover below average (36%)

    12 points below Iowa average of 48%

Facility shows strength in fire safety.

The Bad

Staff Turnover: 36%

Near Iowa avg (46%)

Typical for the industry

Chain: LEGACY HEALTHCARE

Part of a multi-facility chain

Ask about local staffing decisions and management

The Ugly 2 deficiencies on record

Jul 2022 2 deficiencies
CONCERN (D)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Deficiency F0657 (Tag F0657)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

Based on record review, resident and staff interviews the facility failed to conduct quarterly care conferences and invite resident/family to attend and provide input for 1 of 12 residents reviewed (R...

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Based on record review, resident and staff interviews the facility failed to conduct quarterly care conferences and invite resident/family to attend and provide input for 1 of 12 residents reviewed (Resident #11) The facility census was 34 residents. Findings include: Review of the documentation for Resident #11 revealed an admission date to the facility of 4/12/21. Review of the most recent Minimum Data Set MDS) assessment for Resident #11 dated 4/15/22, showed the resident had a BIMS (Brief Interview for Mental Status) score of 15, indicating the resident was cognitively intact. During an interview on 7/12/22 at 10:59 am, Resident #11 stated they have been a resident here for a little over a year now and is only aware of 2 care conferences for reviewing and updating her plan of care since her admission here and states that the second one only happened because she asked the facility Social Worker why she only had one since admission to the facility. Resident #11 went on to say that she used to work in a nursing home so she knows they are to have care conferences quarterly, Resident #11 stated the Social Worker said they could do one right then, sat in her room and asked if she had any concerns, Resident #11 told the Social Worker she had no concerns at that time. Review of the EMR (Electronic Medical Record) for Resident #11 revealed Care Conference Progress Notes for documentation of care conferences since the residents admission dated 7/22/21, 10/21/21, & 11/17/21. Further review of those Care Conference Progress Notes revealed that the Care Conference held on 7/22/21 Resident #11 attended, the Care Conference held 10/21/21 documented the resident as having attended (though the resident does not recall this), and the Care Conference documented on 11/17/21 only the facility Social Worker and Resident #11 attended, no other Care Conference Progress Notes were found in the EMR since that date to the current date of 7/14/22. During an interview on 7/13/22 at 11:16 am the facility ADON verified the Resident had no other Care Conferences since admission to the facility and stated she would expect Care Conferences to be held at least quarterly (every 3 months) and that a Resident with a BIMS score of 15 would be invited to attend their Care Conference to provide input for updating the plan of care for that resident.
CONCERN (D)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Deficiency F0658 (Tag F0658)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

Based on observation, record review, and staff interviews the facility failed to follow manufacturers recommendations for use of insulin pens for 1 of 1 residents observed receiving insulin injections...

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Based on observation, record review, and staff interviews the facility failed to follow manufacturers recommendations for use of insulin pens for 1 of 1 residents observed receiving insulin injections (Resident #4). The facility census was 34 residents. Findings include: Review of the Physicians Orders for Resident #4 revealed current orders on 7/13/22 for the resident to receive a scheduled dose of Lantus (long acting) insulin of 45 units every morning as well as an adjusted dose of Humalog (short acting) insulin based on the residents blood sugar level at that time. During observation of Medication Administration on 7/13/22 at 7:00 am, Staff A (LPN) reviewed the medication orders for Resident #4 and took out the Residents Lantus pre-filled insulin pen and placed a disposable, one-time use insulin needle on the pen then dialed the administration dose to 45 units as ordered, then removed the Residents Humalog pre-filled insulin pen and placed a disposable, one-time use insulin needle on the pen then dialed the administration dose to 4 units (based on the residents blood sugar of 254). Staff A then went into the resident room and administered both doses of insulin to Resident #4 without priming the needles to ensure no air was present and accurate insulin dose administration. During an interview on 7/13/22 at 7:05 am, after administration of the 2 doses of insulin to Resident #4, Staff A stated that they were not aware that use of insulin pens required priming of the needles with 2 units of insulin prior to dialing up the ordered dose of insulin to be administered to ensure the accurate amount of insulin is administered to the residents. Review of the manufacturers information/recommendation provided to the facility by their pharmacy for the use of Lantus insulin pens directs the users to use a new needle for each injection and to follow Step 3 of the Instructions for use. Step 3 of the Instructions for use directs the users to always perform a safety test before each injection, this ensures that you get an accurate dose by ensuring the pen and needle work properly and remove any air bubbles, then instructs the user to select a dose of 2 units, remove the cap, hold pen with needle pointing upwards, tap the insulin pen so any air bubble rise to the needle, then press the injection button all the way in and check that insulin comes out of the needle tip. Review of the manufacturers information/recommendation provided to the facility by their pharmacy for the use of Humalog insulin pens directs the users to prime the insulin pen before each use and warns that if you do not prime before each injection you may get too much or too little insulin, then directs users to prime the pen by turning the Dose Knob to 2 units, hold the pen with the needle pointing up and tap on the pen gently to collect air bubbles at the top, continuing to hold the pen with needle pointing up and push the Dose Knob until it stops at 0 and says that you should see insulin at the tip of the needle. The information then directs the users to turn the Dose Knob to the desired number of units of insulin to be administered. During an interview on 7/13/22 at 11:18 am, the facility ADON stated that they do expect nursing staff to prime insulin pens with 2 units of insulin each time before use and that she does instruct any new nurses to the facility to follow this procedure for insulin administration using insulin pens.
Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Life-Threatening (Immediate Jeopardy)
J - Isolated K - Pattern L - Widespread
Actual Harm
G - Isolated H - Pattern I - Widespread
Potential for Harm
D - Isolated E - Pattern F - Widespread
No Harm (Minor)
A - Isolated B - Pattern C - Widespread

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

Strengths
  • • Grade A (90/100). 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.
  • • Only 2 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
Concerns
  • • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
Bottom line: Generally positive indicators. Standard due diligence and a personal visit recommended.

About This Facility

What is Guttenberg Care Center's CMS Rating?

CMS assigns Guttenberg Care Center 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 Guttenberg Care Center Staffed?

CMS rates Guttenberg Care Center's staffing level at 3 out of 5 stars, which is average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 36%, compared to the Iowa average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care. RN turnover specifically is 60%, which is notably high. RNs provide skilled clinical oversight, so turnover in this role can affect medical care quality.

What Have Inspectors Found at Guttenberg Care Center?

State health inspectors documented 2 deficiencies at Guttenberg Care Center during 2022. These included: 2 with potential for harm.

Who Owns and Operates Guttenberg Care Center?

Guttenberg 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 LEGACY HEALTHCARE, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 46 certified beds and approximately 32 residents (about 70% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Guttenberg, Iowa.

How Does Guttenberg Care Center Compare to Other Iowa Nursing Homes?

Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Iowa, Guttenberg Care Center's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (36%) 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 Guttenberg Care Center?

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 Guttenberg Care Center Safe?

Based on CMS inspection data, Guttenberg 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 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 Guttenberg Care Center Stick Around?

Guttenberg Care Center has a staff turnover rate of 36%, 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 Guttenberg Care Center Ever Fined?

Guttenberg 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 Guttenberg Care Center on Any Federal Watch List?

Guttenberg 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.