Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care has received a Trust Grade of A, meaning it is considered excellent and highly recommended. It ranks #30 out of 266 facilities in Kentucky, placing it in the top half of the state, and is the best option in Rockcastle County. However, the facility is facing a troubling trend as issues have increased from 1 in 2018 to 4 in 2025. Staffing has a rating of 3 out of 5, with a turnover rate of 29%, which is below the state average, indicating that staff generally stay longer and have familiarity with residents. Notably, there have been no fines, and the facility boasts more RN coverage than 96% of others in Kentucky, which is a positive sign for resident care. On the downside, recent inspector findings revealed several concerns. For instance, two residents did not receive adequate visual privacy during tracheostomy care, as procedures were conducted with the door open. Additionally, a resident lacked a functional communication system to call for assistance, which could jeopardize their safety. Lastly, the facility failed to post required nurse staffing information for several days, which could hinder transparency about staff availability. While there are strengths in staffing stability and RN coverage, these issues indicate areas needing improvement.
- Trust Score
- A
- In Kentucky
- #30/266
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ✓ Good
- 29% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 19 points below Kentucky's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Kentucky facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 134 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of Kentucky nursing homes. RNs are the most trained staff who catch health problems before they become serious.
- Violations ✓ Good
- Only 4 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
The Good
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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
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Staff turnover is low (29%)
19 points below Kentucky average of 48%
Facility shows strength in quality measures, staff retention, fire safety.
The Bad
No Significant Concerns Identified
This facility shows no red flags. Among Kentucky's 100 nursing homes, only 1% achieve this.
The Ugly 4 deficiencies on record
Mar 2025
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0583
(Tag F0583)
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 provide visual privacy for two residents (Resident (R...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Staffing Information
(Tag F0732)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations and staff interviews, the facility failed to post the required Nurse Staffing Information (i.e., total number and actual hours worked by the licensed and unlicensed nursing staff...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0919
(Tag F0919)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, record review, and review of facility policy, the facility failed to ensure one (Resident (R )4...
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Aug 2018
1 deficiency
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 observation, interview, and record review, it was determined the facility failed to ensure one (1) of thirty-three (33) sampled residents received a preadmission screening (Resident #84). Res...
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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 Kentucky.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Kentucky facilities.
- • Only 4 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Rockcastle Regional Hospital And Respiratory Care's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Kentucky, 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 Rockcastle Regional Hospital And Respiratory Care Staffed?
CMS rates Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care's staffing level at 3 out of 5 stars, which is average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 29%, compared to the Kentucky average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Rockcastle Regional Hospital And Respiratory Care?
State health inspectors documented 4 deficiencies at Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care during 2018 to 2025. These included: 4 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Rockcastle Regional Hospital And Respiratory Care?
Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care is owned by a non-profit organization. Non-profit facilities reinvest revenue into operations rather than distributing to shareholders. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 143 certified beds and approximately 115 residents (about 80% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in Mount Vernon, Kentucky.
How Does Rockcastle Regional Hospital And Respiratory Care Compare to Other Kentucky Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Kentucky, Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 2.8, 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 Rockcastle Regional Hospital And Respiratory Care?
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 Rockcastle Regional Hospital And Respiratory Care Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care 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 Kentucky. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Rockcastle Regional Hospital And Respiratory Care Stick Around?
Staff at Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 29%, the facility is 17 percentage points below the Kentucky 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 24%, meaning experienced RNs are available to handle complex medical needs.
Was Rockcastle Regional Hospital And Respiratory Care Ever Fined?
Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care 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 Rockcastle Regional Hospital And Respiratory Care on Any Federal Watch List?
Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care 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.