Bay Bluffs-Emmet County Medical Care Facility
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Bay Bluffs-Emmet County Medical Care Facility has earned an impressive Trust Grade of A+, indicating it is an elite facility with top-tier standards. It ranks #5 out of 422 nursing homes in Michigan, placing it in the top tier of options statewide, and is also ranked #1 out of 2 in Emmet County, meaning it is the best choice in the local area. Unfortunately, the facility is currently on a worsening trend, with the number of issues increasing from 2 in 2024 to 5 in 2025. Staffing is a strong point, boasting a 5/5 star rating and a low turnover rate of 21%, which is well below the state average, and offers more RN coverage than 88% of Michigan facilities. On the downside, there have been concerns regarding food safety practices, such as improper food labeling and storage, and unauthorized access to medication storage areas, which raises potential risks for residents. While the facility has no fines on record, these incidents highlight areas that need improvement.
- Trust Score
- A+
- In Michigan
- #5/422
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ✓ Good
- 21% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 27 points below Michigan's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Michigan facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 86 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of Michigan nursing homes. RNs are the most trained staff who catch health problems before they become serious.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 12 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
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 (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
-
Staff turnover is low (21%)
27 points below Michigan 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 Michigan's 100 nursing homes, only 1% achieve this.
The Ugly 12 deficiencies on record
Apr 2025
5 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** Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to revise care plans to reflect the needs of two Residents (R24 and R2...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0661
(Tag F0661)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure a comprehensive discharge summary was completed for one Resident (#2) of two residents reviewed for a discharge to the community.
Fi...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Pressure Ulcer Prevention
(Tag F0686)
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 prevent the development of deep tissue injuries for o...
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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
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure monthly pharmacy medication regimen reviews were performed for one Resident (R30) of five residents reviewed for pharmacy services. ...
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CONCERN
(F)
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 observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to store, prepare, distribute, and serve food in accordance with professional standards for food service safety as evidenced by:...
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Apr 2024
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
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 observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure supervision and safety for one Resident (R16...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to prevent unauthorized access to the facility's three medication storage rooms by allowing unlicensed personnel to retain keys ...
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May 2023
2 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
Based on observation, interview and record review, the facility failed to provide medication administration to meet professional standards [administer insulin according to physician order] for one Res...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview and record review, the facility failed to store, prepare, distribute, and serve food in accordan...
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Dec 2022
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
Free from Abuse/Neglect
(Tag F0600)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** This citation pertains to Intake MI00128120
Based on observation, interview and record review, the facility failed to prevent st...
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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
Investigate Abuse
(Tag F0610)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** This citation pertains to intake MI00132658
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to investigate injuries of...
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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** This citation pertain to intake MI 00130449
Based on observation, interview and record review, the facility failed to prevent ac...
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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 Michigan.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Michigan facilities.
- • 21% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 27 points below Michigan's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- • 12 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
About This Facility
What is Bay Bluffs-Emmet County Medical Care Facility's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Bay Bluffs-Emmet County Medical Care Facility an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Michigan, 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 Bay Bluffs-Emmet County Medical Care Facility Staffed?
CMS rates Bay Bluffs-Emmet County Medical Care Facility'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 Michigan average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Bay Bluffs-Emmet County Medical Care Facility?
State health inspectors documented 12 deficiencies at Bay Bluffs-Emmet County Medical Care Facility during 2022 to 2025. These included: 12 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Bay Bluffs-Emmet County Medical Care Facility?
Bay Bluffs-Emmet County Medical Care Facility is owned by a government entity. Government-operated facilities are typically run by state, county, or municipal agencies. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 120 certified beds and approximately 64 residents (about 53% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in Harbor Springs, Michigan.
How Does Bay Bluffs-Emmet County Medical Care Facility Compare to Other Michigan Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Michigan, Bay Bluffs-Emmet County Medical Care Facility's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.2, 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 Bay Bluffs-Emmet County Medical 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 Bay Bluffs-Emmet County Medical Care Facility Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Bay Bluffs-Emmet County Medical 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 5-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Michigan. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Bay Bluffs-Emmet County Medical Care Facility Stick Around?
Staff at Bay Bluffs-Emmet County Medical Care Facility tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 21%, the facility is 25 percentage points below the Michigan 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 22%, meaning experienced RNs are available to handle complex medical needs.
Was Bay Bluffs-Emmet County Medical Care Facility Ever Fined?
Bay Bluffs-Emmet County Medical Care Facility 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 Bay Bluffs-Emmet County Medical Care Facility on Any Federal Watch List?
Bay Bluffs-Emmet County Medical 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.