GOOD SHEPHERD HOME-BETHLEHEM

2855 SCHOENERSVILLE ROAD, BETHLEHEM, PA 18017 (610) 807-5600
Non profit - Corporation 60 Beds Independent Data: November 2025
Trust Grade
93/100
#45 of 653 in PA
Last Inspection: December 2024

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

Overview

Good Shepherd Home-Bethlehem has received an excellent Trust Grade of A, indicating it is highly recommended and performs well compared to other facilities. It ranks #45 out of 653 nursing homes in Pennsylvania, placing it in the top half of facilities in the state, and #3 out of 16 in Lehigh County, meaning only two local options are better. The facility is newly inspected, so there is no trend data available yet. Staffing is a strong point with a 5-star rating and a turnover rate of just 28%, well below the state average of 46%, which suggests that staff are experienced and familiar with the residents. While the home has no fines, which is commendable, it has had some concerns noted during inspections, including cleanliness issues in resident rooms and a failure to prevent resident-to-resident physical abuse. Reports indicated that floors were not cleaned thoroughly and that one resident exhibited aggressive behavior towards another, which raises concerns about the safety and environment for residents. Overall, while Good Shepherd Home-Bethlehem has significant strengths, families should be aware of these weaknesses when considering care for their loved ones.

Trust Score
A
93/100
In Pennsylvania
#45/653
Top 6%
Safety Record
Low Risk
No red flags
Inspections
Too New
0 → 2 violations
Staff Stability
✓ Good
28% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 20 points below Pennsylvania's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
Penalties
✓ Good
No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Pennsylvania facilities.
Skilled Nurses
✓ Good
Each resident gets 89 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of Pennsylvania nursing homes. RNs are the most trained staff who catch health problems before they become serious.
Violations
✓ Good
Only 2 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
★★★★★
5.0
Overall Rating
★★★★★
5.0
Staff Levels
★★★★★
5.0
Care Quality
★★★★★
5.0
Inspection Score
Stable
: 0 issues
2024: 2 issues

The Good

  • 5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
  • 5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
  • Low Staff Turnover (28%) · Staff stability means consistent care
  • Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
  • No fines on record
  • Staff turnover is low (28%)

    20 points below Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania's 100 nursing homes, only 1% achieve this.

The Ugly 2 deficiencies on record

Dec 2024 2 deficiencies
CONCERN (D)

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

Safe Environment (Tag F0584)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on resident interview and observation, it was determined that the facility failed to provide a clean and comfortable envir...

Read full inspector narrative →
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on resident interview and observation, it was determined that the facility failed to provide a clean and comfortable environment on the nursing unit. Findings include: During a confidential resident interview on December 17, 2024, at 12:34 p.m., it was reported that the floors in resident rooms were not cleaned thoroughly. During a group interview on December 18, 2024, at 10:05 a.m., two of four residents reported that the floors on the nursing unit are not always cleaned thoroughly. On December 17, 2024, at 12:29 p.m., there was dirt and debris on the floor of room [ROOM NUMBER]. Observations on December 18, 2024, between 9:29 a.m. and 1:26 p.m., revealed the following: There was dirt and debris on the floors of rooms 204, 217, 219, and 221. The dirt and debris remained on the floor of room [ROOM NUMBER]. There was dirt, debris, and a white substance smudged on the floor of room [ROOM NUMBER] that remained through the end of the observation period. 28 Pa. Code 201.14(a) Responsibility of licensee. 28 Pa. Code 201.18(b)(1) Management.
CONCERN (D)

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** Based on facility policy review, clinical record review, review of facility documentation, and staff interview, it was determine...

Read full inspector narrative →
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on facility policy review, clinical record review, review of facility documentation, and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to prevent resident to resident physical abuse by one resident (Resident 55) to ensure that each resident was free from abuse, for one of 15 sampled residents. (Resident 29) Findings include: Review of the facility policy entitled, Prevention of Resident Abuse, last reviewed December 2, 2024, revealed that all residents within the facility shall be free from abuse regardless of whether it comes from staff, other residents, volunteers, visitors, family or friends. Clinical record review revealed that Resident 55 had diagnoses that included diffuse traumatic brain injury, anxiety, mood disorder, and impulse disorder. Review of the Minimum Data Set assessment dated [DATE], revealed that the resident had physical behaviors. Review of Resident 55's care plan revealed a behavior management plan for acting aggressively to staff and peers with an intervention for staff to ensure the resident was at arm's length away from all other residents in the facility. Review of nurses' notes dated November 22, 2024, through December 5, 2024, revealed that Resident 55 exhibited agitation and aggressive behaviors that included throwing items, attempts to grab, scratch, kick, and hit staff, showing the middle finger, and pushing tray tables. On December 7, 2024, the nurse noted that Resident 55 scratched and hit Resident 29 in the hallway. Review of the facility witness statements, revealed that Resident 55 was agitated on December 7, 2024, prior to the incident with Resident 29, and staff left him unattended in the hallway with other residents within reach. In an interview on December 19, 2024, at 11:35 a.m., the Director of Nursing confirmed that Resident 55 was left unsupervised within arm's length of other residents when he should not have been. 28 Pa. Code 211.12(d)(1)(5) Nursing services.
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 (93/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Pennsylvania.
  • • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
  • • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Pennsylvania 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 Good Shepherd Home-Bethlehem's CMS Rating?

CMS assigns GOOD SHEPHERD HOME-BETHLEHEM an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Pennsylvania, 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 Good Shepherd Home-Bethlehem Staffed?

CMS rates GOOD SHEPHERD HOME-BETHLEHEM's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 28%, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.

What Have Inspectors Found at Good Shepherd Home-Bethlehem?

State health inspectors documented 2 deficiencies at GOOD SHEPHERD HOME-BETHLEHEM during 2024. These included: 2 with potential for harm.

Who Owns and Operates Good Shepherd Home-Bethlehem?

GOOD SHEPHERD HOME-BETHLEHEM 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 60 certified beds and approximately 58 residents (about 97% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in BETHLEHEM, Pennsylvania.

How Does Good Shepherd Home-Bethlehem Compare to Other Pennsylvania Nursing Homes?

Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Pennsylvania, GOOD SHEPHERD HOME-BETHLEHEM's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.0, staff turnover (28%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.

What Should Families Ask When Visiting Good Shepherd Home-Bethlehem?

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 Good Shepherd Home-Bethlehem Safe?

Based on CMS inspection data, GOOD SHEPHERD HOME-BETHLEHEM 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 Pennsylvania. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.

Do Nurses at Good Shepherd Home-Bethlehem Stick Around?

Staff at GOOD SHEPHERD HOME-BETHLEHEM tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 28%, the facility is 18 percentage points below the Pennsylvania 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 25%, meaning experienced RNs are available to handle complex medical needs.

Was Good Shepherd Home-Bethlehem Ever Fined?

GOOD SHEPHERD HOME-BETHLEHEM 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 Good Shepherd Home-Bethlehem on Any Federal Watch List?

GOOD SHEPHERD HOME-BETHLEHEM 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.