Iowa › Black Hawk County › Waterloo
Northcrest Specialty Care
2001health Street, Waterloo, IA 50703
Ratings are based on the most recent data available; a facility's ratings may have changed since the last update. The health inspection rating is based on the three most recent standard surveys and complaint investigations. CMS processed this record on 1 Aug 2026. View the Care Compare record.
Certified for 94 beds, Northcrest Specialty Care serves Waterloo in Black Hawk County, Iowa and has taken Medicare and Medicaid residents since 1992.
CMS gives it 2 of 5 stars overall, below the Iowa median of 3; the health inspection rating is 2, staffing 4 and quality measures 4.
Inspectors recorded 29 health deficiencies across the three most recent survey cycles (7, 9, 13 by cycle, most recent first), 1 of them at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy level. That is 30.9 per 100 beds, about the same as the state median of 27.5.
CMS lists no fines or payment denials against the facility in the period covered.
Reported nurse staffing is 3.3 hours per resident per day (0.7 RN), close to the Iowa median of 3.7; nursing staff turnover is 46.7%.
Compared with county, state and nation
| Measure | This facility | Black Hawk Co. median | Iowa median | US average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall star rating | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3.0 |
| Health citations, 3 cycles | 29 | 24 | 16 | 28.7 |
| Citations per 100 beds | 30.9 | 22.0 | 27.5 | 26.8 |
| Total nurse hours per resident day | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 3.9 |
| RN hours per resident day | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| Nursing staff turnover | 46.7% | 41.6% | 41.9% | 45.8% |
| Fines listed | $0 | $0 | $0 | — |
County and state figures are medians across facilities (12 in the county, 387 in the state); the US column is the CMS national average where CMS publishes one.
Citations by survey cycle
Dark bar: this facility. Grey bar: Iowa average per facility for the same cycle, as published by CMS. Standard health survey dates: 12 Feb 2026, 30 Jan 2025.
Severity mix: G ×1 D ×19 E ×8 B ×1
Health deficiencies
Every health citation in the current CMS record (three survey cycles), most recent first. Tag text is the CMS requirement summary, not the inspection narrative.
Scope and severity letters (A–L)
| Survey date | Tag | What the tag requires | Severity | Type | Corrected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Feb 2026 | F0919 | Make sure that a working call system is available in each resident's bathroom and bathing area. | E | Standard survey | 14 Mar 2026 |
| 12 Feb 2026 | F0584 | Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. | D | Complaint investigation | 14 Mar 2026 |
| 12 Feb 2026 | F0636 | Assess the resident completely in a timely manner when first admitted, and then periodically, at least every 12 months. | D | Standard survey | 14 Mar 2026 |
| 12 Feb 2026 | F0640 | Encode each resident’s assessment data and transmit these data to the State within 7 days of assessment. | D | Standard survey | 14 Mar 2026 |
| 12 Feb 2026 | F0641 | Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment. | D | Standard survey | 14 Mar 2026 |
| 12 Feb 2026 | F0880 | Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. | D | Standard survey | 14 Mar 2026 |
| 12 Feb 2026 | F0926 | Have policies on smoking. | D | Standard survey | 14 Mar 2026 |
| 4 Jun 2025 | F0677 | Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable. | D | Complaint investigation | 3 Jul 2025 |
| 30 Jan 2025 | F0812 | Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards. | E | Standard survey | 1 Mar 2025 |
| 30 Jan 2025 | F0880 | Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. | E | Standard survey | 1 Mar 2025 |
| 30 Jan 2025 | F0641 | Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment. | D | Standard survey | 1 Mar 2025 |
| 30 Jan 2025 | F0684 | Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals. | D | Standard survey | 1 Mar 2025 |
| 30 Jan 2025 | F0692 | Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health. | D | Standard survey | 1 Mar 2025 |
| 30 Jan 2025 | F0883 | Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations. | D | Standard survey | 1 Mar 2025 |
| 30 Jan 2025 | F0887 | Educate residents and staff on COVID-19 vaccination, offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents and staff after education, and properly document each resident and staff member's vaccination status. | D | Standard survey | 1 Mar 2025 |
| 1 Oct 2024 | F0684 | Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals. | G | Complaint investigation | 14 Oct 2024 |
| 11 Apr 2024 | F0697 | Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services. | D | Complaint investigation | 11 May 2024 |
| 30 Jan 2024 | F0565 | Honor the resident's right to organize and participate in resident/family groups in the facility. | E | Standard survey | 29 Feb 2024 |
| 30 Jan 2024 | F0585 | Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances. | E | Standard survey | 29 Feb 2024 |
| 30 Jan 2024 | F0677 | Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable. | E | Complaint investigation | 29 Feb 2024 |
| 30 Jan 2024 | F0801 | Employ sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician. | E | Standard survey | 29 Feb 2024 |
| 30 Jan 2024 | F0919 | Make sure that a working call system is available in each resident's bathroom and bathing area. | E | Complaint investigation | 29 Feb 2024 |
| 30 Jan 2024 | F0550 | Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. | D | Complaint investigation | 29 Feb 2024 |
| 30 Jan 2024 | F0578 | Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive. | D | Standard survey | 29 Feb 2024 |
| 30 Jan 2024 | F0584 | Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. | D | Complaint investigation | 29 Feb 2024 |
| 30 Jan 2024 | F0636 | Assess the resident completely in a timely manner when first admitted, and then periodically, at least every 12 months. | D | Complaint investigation | 29 Feb 2024 |
| 30 Jan 2024 | F0656 | Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured. | D | Complaint investigation | 29 Feb 2024 |
| 30 Jan 2024 | F0689 | Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. | D | Standard survey | 29 Feb 2024 |
| 30 Jan 2024 | F0641 | Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment. | B | Standard survey | 29 Feb 2024 |
Penalties
CMS lists no fines or payment denials for this facility in the period covered.
Staffing
Hours per resident per day as reported through the Payroll-Based Journal; grey bars are the Iowa average. Turnover: nursing staff 46.7%, RNs 61.9%; 0 administrators left in the reporting year.
Quality measures
| Measure | Residents | This facility | Iowa median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased | Long Stay | 12.0% | 16.8% | 12.6% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder | Long Stay | 3.5% | 0.8% | 0.3% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection | Long Stay | 1.1% | 1.8% | 0.9% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury | Long Stay | 1.1% | 3.4% | 2.8% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication | Short Stay | 2.8% | 1.0% | 1.0% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened | Long Stay | 14.2% | 15.9% | 12.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers | Long Stay | 4.1% | 3.6% | 4.2% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication | Long Stay | 20.8% | 18.2% | 13.4% |
Four-quarter averages for the measures CMS uses in the quality-measure star rating (2025Q2-2026Q1). Lower is better for every measure listed. Medians are computed across facilities on this site.
Ownership
Ownership type: non-profit, corporation. Legal business name: Care Initiatives. Chain: Care Initiatives (43 facilities).
| Organisation | Role in the CMS record | Interest | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Care Initiatives | 5% or greater direct ownership interest | 100% | 08/01/2012 |
| Computershare Corporate Trust Company, Na | 5% or greater mortgage interest | NOT APPLICABLE | 01/01/2025 |
| Computershare Corporate Trust Company, Na | Adp of the snf | NOT APPLICABLE | 08/05/2025 |
Only organisations are shown. CMS also records individual owners, officers and managing employees; this site does not publish people's names.
Other nursing homes in Black Hawk County
| Facility | City | Beds | Overall | Health | Staffing | Citations | Per 100 beds | Fines | Last survey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friendship Village Retirement | Waterloo | 72 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 11.1 | — | 17 Nov 2025 |
| Martin Health Center, Inc | Cedar Falls | 50 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 22.0 | — | 15 May 2025 |
| The Suites At Western Home Communities | Cedar Falls | 72 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 15.3 | — | 26 Mar 2026 |
| Laporte City Specialty Care | La Porte City | 46 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6.5 | — | 26 Feb 2026 |
| Cedar Falls Health Care Center | Cedar Falls | 70 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 33 | 47.1 | — | 8 Jan 2026 |
| Newaldaya Lifescapes | Cedar Falls | 112 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 11.6 | $132K | 22 Apr 2026 |
| Pinnacle Specialty Care | Cedar Falls | 100 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 25.0 | $8K | 9 Jun 2026 |
| Harmony House Health Care CenterSFF Candidate | Waterloo | 65 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 38 | 58.5 | $49K | 30 Jun 2026 |
All 12 facilities in Black Hawk County
Questions and answers
How many deficiencies has Northcrest Specialty Care been cited for?
29 health deficiencies across the three most recent survey cycles, 1 at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy level. The Iowa median is 16 per facility.
Has Northcrest Specialty Care been fined?
CMS lists no fines against the facility in the period covered.
How does staffing at Northcrest Specialty Care compare?
Reported total nurse staffing is 3.3 hours per resident per day against a Iowa median of 3.7 and a national average of 3.9.
Who operates Northcrest Specialty Care?
It is part of the Care Initiatives chain. Ownership type is non-profit, corporation. Organisations in the CMS ownership record include Care Initiatives. Individual owners and managers are not listed on this site.
When was Northcrest Specialty Care last inspected?
The most recent survey or investigation in the CMS record is dated 12 Feb 2026; the most recent standard health survey was 12 Feb 2026.
Where does this data come from?
All figures are from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Care Compare datasets (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties, ownership and quality measures), processed 1 Aug 2026. Ratings and citations may change; the Care Compare record is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Care Compare nursing home datasets (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties, ownership, MDS quality measures, state and national averages), public domain, processed by CMS on 1 Aug 2026. Facility record: Care Compare. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections.