Last Updated: October 2026
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Composite Quality Score

Comprehensive rating based on CMS data, staffing, quality measures, and compliance

B
Grade
54
Score
CMS Ratings
10.3/22
Staffing Quality
8.0/20
Quality Measures
0.0/22
Compliance
18.0/18
Safety
13.0/13
Availability
10.0/10

Current Availability Estimate

Occupancy Rate61.9%
84
Total Beds
52
Occupied
32
Available

Basic Information

Address:

2935 Kaufmann Avenue

Dubuque, IA 52001

Number of Beds:

84

Estimated Occupancy:

62% (~32 available)

Chain:

CARE INITIATIVES

Quality Ratings

Overall Rating:2/5 Stars
Health Inspection:2/5 Stars
Staffing Rating:3/5 Stars
Quality Measures:3/5 Stars

Safety Information

Abuse Issues:No Issues Reported
Special Focus:Not Under Special Focus

Additional Information

CMS Certification Number:

165228

Provider Type:

Medicare and Medicaid

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Staffing Metrics

Higher staffing hours generally indicate better care quality. Lower turnover indicates more experienced, stable staff.

Registered Nurse (RN) Hours

Per resident per day

Below Average

This Facility

0.57

hours

National Avg

0.64

hours

Total Nursing Staff Hours

RN + LPN + Nurse Aides per resident per day

Below Average

This Facility

2.89

hours

National Avg

3.89

hours

Breakdown:

RN: 0.57hLPN: 0.54hAide: 1.79h

Staff Turnover Rate

Annual nursing staff turnover

Above Average

This Facility

57.1%

National Avg

46.6%

RN Turnover: 71.4%

Understanding Staffing Metrics

Staffing hours: Higher hours generally mean more staff attention per resident. Federal minimum is 3.5 total hours per resident per day, but quality facilities often exceed 4+ hours.

Turnover: High turnover (>50%) can indicate staffing issues and affect care continuity. Lower turnover means more experienced staff familiar with residents' needs.

Detailed Quality Measures

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Health Inspections & Deficiencies

Critical Deficiencies Found

This facility has 4 deficiency citations involving actual harm to residents. Review these carefully before making a decision.

Total Deficiencies

44

Inspections

5

Critical

4

High

6

Jul 15, 2024 - Health Survey

28 deficiencies cited

Medium - PatternTag F0684

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024From Complaint
Low - IsolatedTag F0623

Resident Rights Deficiencies

Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024
Medium - PatternTag F0657

Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

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

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024
High - Widespread PatternTag F0686

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024
Medium - PatternTag F0812

Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies

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

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024
Medium - PatternTag F0880

Infection Control Deficiencies

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024
Medium - PatternTag F0550

Resident Rights Deficiencies

Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024From Complaint
Medium - PatternTag F0580

Resident Rights Deficiencies

Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024From Complaint
Low - IsolatedTag F0625

Resident Rights Deficiencies

Notify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024From Complaint
Medium - PatternTag F0658

Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

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

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024From Complaint
Medium - PatternTag F0584

Resident Rights Deficiencies

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.

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024
Medium - PatternTag F0689

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

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

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024From Complaint
Medium - PatternTag F0725

Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies

Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024From Complaint
Medium - PatternTag F0919

Environmental Deficiencies

Make sure that a working call system is available in each resident's bathroom and bathing area.

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024From Complaint
Medium - PatternTag F0584

Resident Rights Deficiencies

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.

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024
Low - IsolatedTag F0623

Resident Rights Deficiencies

Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024
Medium - PatternTag F0657

Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

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

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024
High - Widespread PatternTag F0686

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024
Medium - PatternTag F0812

Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies

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

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024
Medium - PatternTag F0880

Infection Control Deficiencies

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024
Medium - PatternTag F0550

Resident Rights Deficiencies

Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024From Complaint
Medium - PatternTag F0580

Resident Rights Deficiencies

Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024From Complaint
Low - IsolatedTag F0625

Resident Rights Deficiencies

Notify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024From Complaint
Medium - PatternTag F0658

Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

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

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024From Complaint
Medium - PatternTag F0684

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024From Complaint
Medium - PatternTag F0689

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

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

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024From Complaint
Medium - PatternTag F0725

Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies

Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024From Complaint
Medium - PatternTag F0919

Environmental Deficiencies

Make sure that a working call system is available in each resident's bathroom and bathing area.

Corrected: Aug 6, 2024From Complaint

Oct 24, 2023 - Health Survey

2 deficiencies cited

High - Widespread PatternTag F0689

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

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

Corrected: Dec 4, 2023From Complaint
High - Widespread PatternTag F0689

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

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

Corrected: Dec 4, 2023From Complaint

Feb 9, 2023 - Health Survey

4 deficiencies cited

Medium - PatternTag F0657

Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

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

Corrected: Feb 26, 2023From Complaint
High - Widespread PatternTag F0686

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.

Corrected: Feb 23, 2023From Complaint
High - Widespread PatternTag F0686

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.

Corrected: Feb 23, 2023From Complaint
Medium - PatternTag F0657

Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

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

Corrected: Feb 26, 2023From Complaint

Jul 13, 2022 - Health Survey

8 deficiencies cited

Critical - Actual HarmTag F0622

Resident Rights Deficiencies

Not transfer or discharge a resident without an adequate reason; and must provide documentation and convey specific information when a resident is transferred or discharged.

Corrected: Jul 26, 2022From Complaint
Medium - PatternTag F0561

Resident Rights Deficiencies

Honor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice.

Corrected: Aug 5, 2022From Complaint
Critical - Actual HarmTag F0600

Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies

Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.

Corrected: Jul 26, 2022From Complaint
Medium - PatternTag F0609

Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies

Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.

Corrected: Aug 25, 2022From Complaint
Medium - PatternTag F0609

Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies

Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.

Corrected: Aug 25, 2022From Complaint
Critical - Actual HarmTag F0622

Resident Rights Deficiencies

Not transfer or discharge a resident without an adequate reason; and must provide documentation and convey specific information when a resident is transferred or discharged.

Corrected: Jul 26, 2022From Complaint
Medium - PatternTag F0561

Resident Rights Deficiencies

Honor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice.

Corrected: Aug 5, 2022From Complaint
Critical - Actual HarmTag F0600

Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies

Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.

Corrected: Jul 26, 2022From Complaint

Oct 28, 2021 - Health Survey

2 deficiencies cited

Medium - PatternTag F0686

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.

Corrected: Nov 15, 2021
Medium - PatternTag F0686

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.

Corrected: Nov 15, 2021

Understanding Deficiencies

Deficiencies are violations of federal health and safety standards identified during CMS inspections. They are categorized by scope (isolated, pattern, or widespread) and severity (potential for harm vs. actual harm).

Critical deficiencies involve actual harm to residents and should be carefully considered. Facilities typically have opportunities to correct deficiencies and implement preventive measures.

Understanding deficiencies: Not all deficiencies indicate poor care. Learn how to interpret health inspection results and identify serious warning signs. Read our guide on warning signs →

Penalties & Enforcement

2 penalties in the past 3 years

Total fines: $53,372

FineJuly 15, 2024

$53,372

Data processed: August 1, 2026

Payment DenialJuly 15, 2024

Payment Denial: Started August 7, 2024

Duration: 16 days

Data processed: August 1, 2026

About Penalties: This data comes from CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) and shows fines and payment denials issued for health and safety violations. Penalties indicate serious deficiencies that required enforcement action.

Key Highlights

🛏
Beds Available
Approximately 32 beds potentially available
🏢
Part of Healthcare Chain
CARE INITIATIVES

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the quality rating for Dubuque Specialty Care?

Dubuque Specialty Care has an overall CMS rating of 2 out of 5 stars. This rating is based on health inspections, staffing levels, and quality measures reported by Medicare.

How many beds does this facility have?

Dubuque Specialty Care has 84 certified beds. The facility averages 52 residents per day, with an occupancy rate of approximately 62%.

What type of ownership does this facility have?

This facility is non profit - corporation owned. It is part of the CARE INITIATIVES network.

How can I contact Dubuque Specialty Care?

You can call Dubuque Specialty Care at (563)556-0673. The facility is located at 2935 Kaufmann Avenue, Dubuque, IA 52001.

What should I look for when choosing a nursing home?

When selecting a nursing home, consider: CMS star ratings (overall, health inspection, staffing, and quality measures), nurse staffing levels, staff turnover rates, recent health inspection results, complaint history, proximity to family, and available services. We recommend visiting facilities in person, talking to current residents and staff, and checking multiple sources of information before making your decision. Use our comprehensive tour checklist when visiting facilities.

📚 Learn How to Evaluate Facilities

Understanding quality metrics helps you make better decisions. Check out these data-driven guides: