GOOD SHEPHERD HOME-BETHLEHEM
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
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
- In Pennsylvania
- #45/653
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Too New
- 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.
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 (28%) · 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 (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...
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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...
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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 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.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
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.