Gino J Merli Veterans Center

Name: Gino J Merli Veterans Center
Address: 401 PENN AVENUE, Scranton, PA, 18503, US
Telephone: 5709614300

401 Penn Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503 · Lackawanna County · 196 certified beds · avg 182 residents/day · certified since Jan 1, 2009

4/5

Health inspection rating (on-site)

Serious findings on record

Fines, last 3 years

6.38

Nurse hours/resident/day (adjusted)

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

Health inspection rating: ★★★★☆4/5 · CMS overall rating: 5/5

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.

Most serious findings (actual harm or immediate jeopardy)

▲ Actual harm, one-off · May 13, 2025 · F-0689 · triggered by a complaint

The facility did not keep the environment free of accident hazards, or did not provide enough supervision to prevent accidents like falls.

Why it matters: This is one of the most common citations and directly relates to falls and injuries, which can be devastating for older adults.

Severity (G): One or a few residents were actually harmed — physically or emotionally — though not put in immediate danger of serious injury or death.

Corrected: Jul 7, 2025 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)

All citations in the current public record (6)

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
Apr 10, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not develop and follow policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft. These written safeguards are the foundation of resident protection.
Apr 10, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not develop a resident's complete plan of care within 7 days of the full assessment, or the plan wasn't prepared, reviewed, and updated by a team of health professionals as required.
Apr 10, 2026	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.
Jun 6, 2025	E · Potential for harm, repeated	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.
May 13, 2025	▲ G · Actual 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 16, 2024	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not develop or follow a complete care plan for each resident — the written roadmap covering all of a resident's needs, with measurable goals and timelines.

Inspection trend by year

Citations from standard inspections increased between the last two inspection cycles (1 → 3).

Year	Citations	Serious (G–L)	Worst severity that year
2024	1	0	E
2025	2	1	G ▲
2026	3	0	D

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	Pennsylvania avg	U.S. avg	Where it stands
Total nurse staffing (hours per resident per day)	6.38	3.94	3.95	top 4% in Pennsylvania; top 3% in the U.S.
Registered Nurse hours	1.24	0.80	0.69	top 12% in Pennsylvania; top 8% in the U.S.
Weekend total nurse staffing	5.25	3.58	3.50	top 6% in Pennsylvania; top 5% in the U.S.
Weekend RN hours (not acuity-adjusted)	0.71	0.56	0.48	top 22% in Pennsylvania; top 15% in the U.S.
Total nursing staff turnover (%)	30.1	44.5	45.8	top 15% in Pennsylvania; top 14% in the U.S.
RN turnover (%)	19.4	39.9	42.9	top 14% in Pennsylvania; top 13% 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 5.40, RN 1.05, weekend 4.44. Staffing rating: 5/5.

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: —/5

Who owns this facility

Government - State

Owner / manager	Type	Role	Stake	Since
		Ownership Data Not Available

Questions to ask on your visit

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

"What is your falls rate, and what specific steps do you take to prevent falls and supervise residents at risk?"
"What specific steps do you take to prevent abuse and neglect, and how are staff trained on them?"
"Who is on the team that builds each resident's care plan, and how quickly is it in place after admission?"
"How do you monitor residents' weight and eating, and what happens when someone starts losing weight?"
"How often is each resident's medication list reviewed, and who decides when a drug can be reduced or stopped?"
"Can you show me an example care plan, and how are families included when it's created and updated?"
"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	Flags
Embassy of Scranton	0.6 mi	Scranton, PA	★☆☆☆☆	1/5	SFF
Elan Skilled Nursing and Rehab, a Jewish Senior Li	0.7 mi	Scranton, PA	★★☆☆☆	2/5
Linwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center	1.4 mi	Scranton, PA	★☆☆☆☆	2/5	abuse
Green Ridge Care Center	1.9 mi	Scranton, PA	★★★★☆	4/5
Dunmore Health Care Center	1.9 mi	Dunmore, PA	★★★☆☆	3/5
Marywood Heights	2.2 mi	Scranton, PA	★★☆☆☆	2/5	abuse
Allied Services Transitional Rehab Unit	2.4 mi	Scranton, PA	★★★★★	5/5
Allied Services Skilled Nursing Center	2.5 mi	Scranton, PA	★★★☆☆	3/5
Scranton Health Care Center	2.6 mi	Scranton, PA	★★★★☆	4/5
Oak Ridge Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center	3.9 mi	Taylor, PA	★☆☆☆☆	1/5	abuse
Abington Manor	5.0 mi	Clarks Summit, PA	★★★☆☆	2/5	abuse
Saint Mary's Villa Nursing Hom	5.9 mi	Moscow, PA	★★★★☆	4/5

Compare this facility with the 3 closest →

All facilities in Scranton →

Facility data as of CMS processing date 2026-08-01. CCN 39A433.

The Care File

Visit checklist — Gino J Merli Veterans Center

401 Penn Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503 · 5709614300

Health inspection rating 4/5 · CMS overall 5/5· Fines (3y): $0

Most serious findings on record:

▲ May 13, 2025 (F-0689, Actual 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.

Questions for the administrator:

☐ "What is your falls rate, and what specific steps do you take to prevent falls and supervise residents at risk?"
☐ "What specific steps do you take to prevent abuse and neglect, and how are staff trained on them?"
☐ "Who is on the team that builds each resident's care plan, and how quickly is it in place after admission?"
☐ "How do you monitor residents' weight and eating, and what happens when someone starts losing weight?"
☐ "How often is each resident's medication list reviewed, and who decides when a drug can be reduced or stopped?"
☐ "Can you show me an example care plan, and how are families included when it's created and updated?"
☐ "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 39A433 · Verify at medicare.gov/care-compare · Printed from The Care File (thecarefile.com)