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HomeIowaBuchanan County Health Center

Buchanan County Health Center

1600 First Street East, Independence, IA 506443193346071WebsiteGoogle Maps
2.9on Google(54 reviews)
5/5Much Above Average
Accepts Medicaid Sprinkler System

CMS data snapshot: July 2026

Health
4/5
Staffing
5/5
Quality
4/5
Beds
39
certified
1 fine(s) totaling $4,011

How Buchanan County Health Center Compares in Iowa

Facility results compared with averages for CMS-certified nursing homes in Iowa. Ratings, staffing and turnover measure different parts of care and should be reviewed together.

CMS overall rating
5/5
IA average
3.1/5
Above state average
Health inspection rating
4/5
IA average
2.8/5
Above state average
Staffing rating
5/5
IA average
3.6/5
Above state average
Nursing hours per resident
4.19 hrs/day
IA average
3.81 hrs/day
Above state average
RN hours per resident
1.22 hrs/day
IA average
0.74 hrs/day
Above state average
Staff turnover
26.3%
IA average
44.1%
Lower than state average

Comparisons use the matching CMS state averages without a proprietary combined score. Review the comparison methodology.

What the Data Highlights

Its 5/5 overall CMS rating is above the Iowa average of 3.1/5.
Its 4/5 health inspection rating is above the Iowa average of 2.8/5.
Reported nursing time is 4.19 hours per resident per day, above the state average of 3.81.
Reported RN time is 1.22 hours per resident per day, above the state average of 0.74.

Health Inspection Trend

A side-by-side view of the two CMS inspection cycles included in the current dataset.

Previous cycle
6
deficiency citations
Inspected Mar 20, 2025
Most recent cycle
1
deficiency citation
Inspected Mar 19, 2026
The most recent cycle recorded 5 fewer deficiency citations than the previous cycle.

Citation counts alone do not show severity. Review the inspection details below for scope, severity and correction status.

Cost & Demographics

Semi-Private Room
$7,148/mo
Iowa median
Private Room
$8,091/mo
Iowa median
Buchanan County 65+
3,733
18.1% of county
County Population
20,631
Buchanan County

Cost data: Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey (2024). Demographics: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2022).

Swipe tabs for staffing, quality and ownership.

Buchanan County Health Center is a 5-star Medicaid certified nursing home in Independence, Iowa with 39 certified beds. It has been operating since 1974. Its overall CMS rating is 5 out of 5.

Beds
39
Avg Residents/Day
34.5
Ownership
Government - County
Provider Type
Medicaid
In Hospital
Yes
First Approved
Oct 1, 1974
Sprinklers
Yes
Council
Resident
County
Buchanan
Last Inspection
Mar 19, 2026
Deficiencies (Cycle 1)
1
Weighted Score
17.0
Infection Citations
0

Deficiency Citations (12)

F0880Potential for Harm

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Survey: Mar 19, 2026Corrected: NoCycle: 1
F0812Potential for Harm

Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Survey: Mar 20, 2025Corrected: NoCycle: 2
F0658Potential for Harm

Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.

Survey: Mar 20, 2025Corrected: NoCycle: 2
F0637Minimal Harm

Assess the resident when there is a significant change in condition

Survey: Mar 20, 2025Corrected: NoCycle: 2
F0657Minimal Harm

Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.

Survey: Mar 20, 2025Corrected: NoCycle: 2
F0689Immediate Jeopardy

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

Survey: Nov 26, 2024Corrected: NoCycle: 2
F0741Potential for Harm

Ensure that the facility has sufficient staff members who possess the competencies and skills to meet the behavioral health needs of residents.

Survey: Nov 26, 2024Corrected: NoCycle: 2
F0801Potential for Harm

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.

Survey: Jun 6, 2024Corrected: NoCycle: 3
F0812Potential for Harm

Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Survey: Jun 6, 2024Corrected: NoCycle: 3
F0637Potential for Harm

Assess the resident when there is a significant change in condition

Survey: Jun 6, 2024Corrected: NoCycle: 3
F0656Potential for Harm

Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.

Survey: Jun 6, 2024Corrected: NoCycle: 3
F0688Potential for Harm

Provide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.

Survey: Jun 6, 2024Corrected: NoCycle: 3
Total Fines
$4,011
Number of Fines
1
Payment Denials
0
Total Penalties
1

Penalty History

FineNov 26, 2024
$4,011

Staffing hours per resident per day. The black line shows the national average.

Nurse Aide2.62 hrs
National avg: 2.32 hrs
LPN0.35 hrs
National avg: 0.86 hrs
RN1.22 hrs
National avg: 0.69 hrs
Total Nursing4.19 hrs
National avg: 3.86 hrs
Weekend Total3.38 hrs
National avg: 0.00 hrs
Physical Therapist0.00 hrs
National avg: 0.07 hrs
Total Turnover
26.3%
RN Turnover
12.5%
Administrators Left
0

Quality measures as percentages of residents. Lower is better for all measures.

Ownership Type
Government - County
Recent Change
No

Owners & Managers (1)

NameRoleTypeOwnership %Since
Ownership Data Not AvailableN/AN/A

Compare Nearby Nursing Homes

Compare CMS ratings and recorded fines for Buchanan County Health Center and nearby alternatives.

All Iowa facilities
Buchanan County Health Center
Independence, IACurrent facility
CMS
5/5
Health
4/5
Staffing
5/5
Recorded fines: $4,011
Rehabilitation Centers of Independence West Campus
Independence, IA1,056 ft
CMS
3/5
Health
2/5
Staffing
4/5
Recorded fines: $22,740
Oelwein Health Care Center
Oelwein, IA14.0 mi
CMS
3/5
Health
3/5
Staffing
3/5
Recorded fines: None
Grandview Healthcare Center
Oelwein, IA14.1 mi
CMS
4/5
Health
4/5
Staffing
3/5
Recorded fines: None
Laporte City Specialty Care
La Porte City, IA20.2 mi
CMS
4/5
Health
4/5
Staffing
4/5
Recorded fines: None
Virginia Gay Nursing & Rehab, LLC
Vinton, IA21.6 mi
CMS
5/5
Health
5/5
Staffing
1/5
Recorded fines: None
Good Neighbor Home
Manchester, IA22.3 mi
CMS
3/5
Health
2/5
Staffing
5/5
Recorded fines: $6,279
FacilityDistanceCMSHealthStaffingRecorded fines
Buchanan County Health Center
Independence, IA · Current facility
—5/54/55/5$4,011
Rehabilitation Centers of Independence West Campus
Independence, IA
1,056 ft3/52/54/5$22,740
Oelwein Health Care Center
Oelwein, IA
14.0 mi3/53/53/5None recorded
Grandview Healthcare Center
Oelwein, IA
14.1 mi4/54/53/5None recorded
Laporte City Specialty Care
La Porte City, IA
20.2 mi4/54/54/5None recorded
Virginia Gay Nursing & Rehab, LLC
Vinton, IA
21.6 mi5/55/51/5None recorded
Good Neighbor Home
Manchester, IA
22.3 mi3/52/55/5$6,279

Distance is approximate. Ratings and enforcement data use the current CMS snapshot; recorded fines are not a complete measure of care quality. How nearby facilities are selected.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CMS rating for Buchanan County Health Center?▾
Buchanan County Health Center has an overall CMS rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a health inspection rating of 4/5, staffing rating of 5/5, and quality measures rating of 4/5. This facility is rated above average.
How much does Buchanan County Health Center cost per month?▾
While individual facility pricing is not publicly available, the median nursing home cost in Iowa is $7,148/month for a semi-private room and $8,091/month for a private room (Genworth/CareScout 2024). Buchanan County Health Center participates in Medicaid, which may cover some or all costs depending on eligibility.
Has Buchanan County Health Center had any health inspection violations?▾
Buchanan County Health Center had 1 deficiency citations in its most recent health inspection (Mar 19, 2026). The current CMS dataset records 1 fine(s) totaling $4,011.
What are the staffing levels at Buchanan County Health Center?▾
Buchanan County Health Center provides 4.19 total nursing staff hours per resident per day, including 1.22 RN hours, 0.35 LPN hours, and 2.62 nurse aide hours. The total staff turnover rate is 26.3%.
How many beds does Buchanan County Health Center have?▾
Buchanan County Health Center has 39 certified beds with an average of 34.5 residents per day, resulting in approximately 88% occupancy. The facility is Government - County owned.
Are there other nursing homes near Buchanan County Health Center?▾
Yes. This page lists 6 nearby nursing homes in Iowa, including 1 in Independence. Compare their CMS ratings, staffing, inspections and fines before choosing a facility.
What do patients and families say about Buchanan County Health Center?▾
On Google Maps, Buchanan County Health Center has a rating of 2.9 out of 5 based on 54 reviews. This is an independent rating from visitors and families, separate from the official CMS government rating of 5/5.