DOOLEY CENTER
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
The Dooley Center in Atchison, Kansas, has received a Trust Grade of A, indicating it is considered excellent and highly recommended for care. Ranking #15 out of 295 facilities in Kansas places it in the top half, and it is the best option among the three nursing homes in Atchison County. However, the facility's trend is worsening, with the number of identified issues increasing from 3 in 2022 to 7 in 2024. Staffing is a strength, with a 5-star rating and only 29% turnover, which is significantly lower than the state average. Additionally, the facility has not incurred any fines, which is positive, but it does have average RN coverage. Recent inspections revealed some concerns, including incomplete staffing information submitted to federal regulators, the lack of a qualified Infection Preventionist, and inconsistent reconciliation of controlled drugs at shift changes, which could risk medication safety. Overall, while the center has many strengths, the recent issues highlight areas needing improvement.
- Trust Score
- A
- In Kansas
- #15/295
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ✓ Good
- 29% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 19 points below Kansas's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Kansas facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 45 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for Kansas. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ○ Average
- 10 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
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5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
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5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Low Staff Turnover (29%) · 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
-
Staff turnover is low (29%)
19 points below Kansas average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, staff retention, fire safety.
The Bad
No Significant Concerns Identified
This facility shows no red flags. Among Kansas's 100 nursing homes, only 1% achieve this.
The Ugly 10 deficiencies on record
Feb 2024
7 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
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** The facility identified a census of 33 residents. The sample included 12 residents with one resident reviewed for respiratory ca...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0678
(Tag F0678)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** The facility reported a census of 33 residents. The sample included 12 residents. Based on interview and record review, the faci...
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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
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** The facility identified a census of 33 residents. The sample included 12 residents with one resident reviewed for respiratory ca...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0757
(Tag F0757)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** The facility identified a census of 33 residents. The sample included 12 residents with five residents reviewed for unnecessary ...
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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
The facility had a census of 33 residents. The sample included 12 residents and two medication carts. Based on observation, record review, and interview the facility failed to provide a consistent rec...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Staffing Data
(Tag F0851)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
The facility had a census of 33 residents. Based on interview and record review the facility failed to submit complete and accurate staffing information to the federal regulatory agency through Payrol...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0882
(Tag F0882)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
The facility identified a census of 33 residents. Based on record review and interviews, the facility failed to designate a staff member with the required qualification and certification as the Infect...
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Jul 2022
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Drug Regimen Review
(Tag F0756)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** The facility identified a census of 31 residents. The sample included 12 residents with five residents reviewed for unnecessary ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0757
(Tag F0757)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** The facility identified a census of 31 residents. The sample included 12 residents with five residents reviewed for unnecessary ...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0883
(Tag F0883)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
The facility identified a census of 31 residents. The sample included 12 residents with five reviewed for influenza and pneumococcal immunizations. Based on record review and interviews, the facility ...
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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 (93/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Kansas.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Kansas facilities.
- • 29% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 19 points below Kansas'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 Dooley Center's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns DOOLEY CENTER an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Kansas, 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 Dooley Center Staffed?
CMS rates DOOLEY CENTER's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 29%, compared to the Kansas average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Dooley Center?
State health inspectors documented 10 deficiencies at DOOLEY CENTER during 2022 to 2024. These included: 10 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Dooley Center?
DOOLEY CENTER is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 44 certified beds and approximately 29 residents (about 66% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in ATCHISON, Kansas.
How Does Dooley Center Compare to Other Kansas Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Kansas, DOOLEY CENTER's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 2.9, staff turnover (29%) 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 Dooley 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 Dooley Center Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, DOOLEY 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 Kansas. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Dooley Center Stick Around?
Staff at DOOLEY CENTER tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 29%, the facility is 17 percentage points below the Kansas 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 Dooley Center Ever Fined?
DOOLEY 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 Dooley Center on Any Federal Watch List?
DOOLEY 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.