Brickyard Healthcare - Portage Care Center

Name: Brickyard Healthcare - Portage Care Center
Address: 3175 LANCER ST, Portage, IN, 46368, US
Telephone: 2197629571

3175 Lancer St, Portage, IN 46368 · Porter County · 186 certified beds · avg 161 residents/day · certified since Jul 1, 1979

Part of chain: BRICKYARD HEALTHCARE (23 facilities, chain avg rating 2.7★)

2/5

Health inspection rating (on-site)

Serious findings on record

Fines, last 3 years

3.03

Nurse hours/resident/day (adjusted)

What health inspectors found (on-site government inspections — the most independent evidence available)

Health inspection rating: ★★☆☆☆2/5 · CMS overall rating: 2/5

The health inspection star above is graded on a curve within each state — a set share of each state's facilities gets each star level — so a facility can have few citations and still rate 2–3 stars if others in its state did even better. The overall rating combines that inspection score with staffing and self-reported quality measures.

All citations in the current public record (29)

CMS publishes roughly the last three inspection cycles plus recent complaint investigations. Older surveys drop out of the record as new ones are completed.

Date	Severity	What the facility was cited for
Jun 29, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide treatment and care that follows the doctor's orders and matches the resident's own preferences and goals. · from a complaint
Jan 12, 2026	F · Potential for harm, facility-wide	The facility did not get its food from approved, safe sources, or did not store, prepare, and serve food according to professional food safety standards.
Jan 12, 2026	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not provide treatment and care that follows the doctor's orders and matches the resident's own preferences and goals.
Jan 12, 2026	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not protect residents' personal information or did not keep complete, accurate medical records that meet professional standards.
Jan 12, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not treat residents with dignity and respect, or did not honor their rights to make their own decisions and communicate freely. This is one of the most fundamental resident rights.
Jan 12, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not help a resident get vision and hearing services — such as eye exams, glasses, hearing tests, or hearing aids.
Jan 12, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not keep the environment free of accident hazards, or did not provide enough supervision to prevent accidents like falls. · from a complaint
Jan 12, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility used feeding tubes without a valid medical reason or the resident's agreement, or did not provide proper care to residents who have feeding tubes.
Jan 12, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not safely and appropriately administer IV fluids (fluids given through a vein) for residents who needed them.
Jan 12, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide safe and appropriate respiratory care — such as oxygen, breathing treatments, or care for residents on breathing equipment — for residents who needed it.
Jan 12, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide the social services residents need — such as counseling, help with adjustment, or connecting to outside resources — to achieve the best possible quality of life. · from a complaint
Jan 12, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not keep residents' medications free from unnecessary drugs. Residents should only take medicines they truly need, at the right dose, for a clear reason.
Oct 30, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide pharmacy services that meet each resident's needs, or did not employ or contract with a licensed pharmacist. · from a complaint
Aug 23, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide treatment and care that follows the doctor's orders and matches the resident's own preferences and goals. · from a complaint
Aug 23, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide proper care for pressure ulcers (bedsores) or did not do enough to prevent new ones from forming. Bedsores develop when residents stay in one position too long without help moving.
Aug 23, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not keep the environment free of accident hazards, or did not provide enough supervision to prevent accidents like falls. · from a complaint
Aug 23, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide appropriate care related to bladder and bowel needs — including care for residents who use catheters and steps to prevent urinary tract infections.
Aug 23, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide safe and appropriate respiratory care — such as oxygen, breathing treatments, or care for residents on breathing equipment — for residents who needed it.
Aug 23, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not have or follow an effective program to prevent and control infections — such as proper hand washing, cleaning, and isolation practices. This is the most commonly cited deficiency nationwide.
Jan 18, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not protect residents' personal information or did not keep complete, accurate medical records that meet professional standards. · from a complaint
Jan 18, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not have or follow an effective program to prevent and control infections — such as proper hand washing, cleaning, and isolation practices. This is the most commonly cited deficiency nationwide. · from a complaint
Sep 22, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not allow residents to take their own medications when a clinical review showed they could do so safely. Residents have this right if their care team determines it's appropriate.
Sep 22, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide the help residents need with basic daily activities — like bathing, dressing, eating, and using the bathroom — for residents who cannot do these things on their own.
Sep 22, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide the care needed to maintain or improve residents' movement and flexibility — such as range-of-motion exercises — leading to avoidable decline.
Sep 22, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide appropriate care related to bladder and bowel needs — including care for residents who use catheters and steps to prevent urinary tract infections.
Sep 22, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide enough food and fluids to keep residents healthy, such as preventing unplanned weight loss or dehydration.
Sep 22, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility used feeding tubes without a valid medical reason or the resident's agreement, or did not provide proper care to residents who have feeding tubes.
Sep 22, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide safe and appropriate respiratory care — such as oxygen, breathing treatments, or care for residents on breathing equipment — for residents who needed it.
Sep 22, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not keep its building and grounds safe, functional, clean, and comfortable for residents, staff, and visitors.

Inspection trend by year

Citations from standard inspections increased between the last two inspection cycles (6 → 11).

Year	Citations	Worst severity that year
2023	8	D
2024	8	D
2025	1	D
2026	12	F

Counts reflect the current CMS public record (~3 inspection cycles plus complaint investigations); years with no surveys show no row. Inspection frequency varies, so compare severity as well as counts.

Fines and enforcement (last 3 years)

No fines or payment denials in the published 3-year window.

Nurse staffing (from payroll records, adjusted for how much care residents need)

Measure	This facility	Indiana avg	U.S. avg	Where it stands
Total nurse staffing (hours per resident per day)	3.03	3.42	3.95	bottom 31% in Indiana; bottom 15% in the U.S.
Registered Nurse hours	0.45	0.62	0.69	bottom 28% in Indiana; bottom 29% in the U.S.
Weekend total nurse staffing	2.63	3.01	3.50	bottom 28% in Indiana; bottom 13% in the U.S.
Weekend RN hours (not acuity-adjusted)	0.27	0.47	0.48	bottom 17% in Indiana; bottom 27% in the U.S.
Total nursing staff turnover (%)	45.4	45.9	45.8	top 50% in Indiana; bottom 49% in the U.S.
RN turnover (%)	40.9	40.4	42.9	bottom 48% in Indiana; top 49% in the U.S.

Hours are per resident per day, case-mix adjusted by CMS so facilities caring for sicker residents can be compared fairly (same basis as the CMS staffing star). "Top X%" means better than most facilities: more staffing hours, or lower turnover. Raw (unadjusted) reported hours: total 3.38, RN 0.50, weekend 2.93. Staffing rating: 1/5.

Self-reported quality measures

Note: these ratings are based on data the facility reports about itself to CMS. They are not independently verified by inspectors, and can look better than inspection findings. Give more weight to the inspection results above.

Quality measures rating: 5/5 · long-stay residents: 5/5 · short-stay residents: 4/5

Who owns this facility

For profit - Corporation

Owner / manager	Type	Role	Stake	Since
Carpenter-Heard, Jacqueline	Individual	Contracted Managing Employee	NOT APPLICABLE	10/31/2022
Engels, Erin	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	11/01/2014
Fenoughty, Deanna	Individual	Corporate Officer	NOT APPLICABLE	07/10/2023
Fountainview Portage Operating LLC	Organization	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	09/01/2012
Gentry, Mark	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	01/12/2022
Starkey, Tyler	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	08/01/2020
Waite, John	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	08/01/2020
Whicker, Timothy	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	01/12/2022

Questions to ask on your visit

Generated from this facility's actual citation record — bring them to a tour and ask the administrator directly.

"How do you make sure each resident's care follows the doctor's orders, and what changed after this citation?"
"What did your most recent kitchen inspection find, and can I see how food is stored and prepared?"
"How do you keep residents' medical records accurate, complete, and secure?"
"Can you give me examples of how your staff protect residents' dignity in everyday care, like bathing and dressing?"
"How do you arrange eye and hearing care for residents, including appointments and equipment like glasses or hearing aids?"
"What is your falls rate, and what specific steps do you take to prevent falls and supervise residents at risk?"
"How do you decide when a feeding tube is truly needed, and how do staff care for residents who have one?"
"Who on your staff manages IV therapy, and what training and monitoring is in place?"
"What is your current ratio of nursing staff to residents on day, evening, and weekend shifts?"
"Can I see the results and plan of correction from your most recent state inspection?"

Nearby facilities (within 20 miles)

Facility	Distance	City	Overall	Inspection
Miller's Merry Manor	0.5 mi	Portage, IN	★★☆☆☆	2/5
Waters of Hobart Skilled Nursing Facility, the	5.6 mi	Hobart, IN	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
Casa of Hobart	7.2 mi	Hobart, IN	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
Chesterton Manor	7.2 mi	Chesterton, IN	★☆☆☆☆	2/5
Ignite Medical Resort Chesterton	7.2 mi	Chesterton, IN	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
Life Care Center of Valparaiso	7.2 mi	Valparaiso, IN	★★★★★	4/5
Addison Pointe Health & Rehabilitation Center	7.7 mi	Chesterton, IN	★★★☆☆	2/5
Valparaiso Care & Rehabilitation	8.2 mi	Valparaiso, IN	★☆☆☆☆	2/5
Life Care Center of the Willows	9.1 mi	Valparaiso, IN	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
South Shore Health & Rehabilitation Center	9.2 mi	Gary, IN	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
Avalon Springs Health Campus	9.3 mi	Valparaiso, IN	★★★★☆	3/5
Aperion Care Tolleston Park	9.7 mi	Gary, IN	★☆☆☆☆	1/5

Compare this facility with the 3 closest →

All facilities in Portage →

Facility data as of CMS processing date 2026-08-01. CCN 155187.

The Care File

Visit checklist — Brickyard Healthcare - Portage Care Center

3175 Lancer St, Portage, IN 46368 · 2197629571

Health inspection rating 2/5 · CMS overall 2/5· Fines (3y): $0

Questions for the administrator:

☐ "How do you make sure each resident's care follows the doctor's orders, and what changed after this citation?"
☐ "What did your most recent kitchen inspection find, and can I see how food is stored and prepared?"
☐ "How do you keep residents' medical records accurate, complete, and secure?"
☐ "Can you give me examples of how your staff protect residents' dignity in everyday care, like bathing and dressing?"
☐ "How do you arrange eye and hearing care for residents, including appointments and equipment like glasses or hearing aids?"
☐ "What is your falls rate, and what specific steps do you take to prevent falls and supervise residents at risk?"
☐ "How do you decide when a feeding tube is truly needed, and how do staff care for residents who have one?"
☐ "Who on your staff manages IV therapy, and what training and monitoring is in place?"
☐ "What is your current ratio of nursing staff to residents on day, evening, and weekend shifts?"
☐ "Can I see the results and plan of correction from your most recent state inspection?"

While you're there, notice:

☐ Smell and cleanliness in hallways, not just the lobby
☐ How staff speak to residents; call lights answered promptly
☐ Residents up, dressed, and engaged (visit mealtimes and a weekend if you can)

Data: CMS Provider Data Catalog, version 2026-08-01 · CCN 155187 · Verify at medicare.gov/care-compare · Printed from The Care File (thecarefile.com)