Mountain City Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
403 Hazle Township Boulevard, Hazleton, PA 18202 · Luzerne County · 297 certified beds · avg 227 residents/day · certified since Jun 1, 1983
Abuse citation flag (CMS)
Part of chain: SABER HEALTHCARE GROUP (126 facilities, chain avg rating 2.9★)
The abuse flag means inspectors cited this facility for abuse that caused harm to a resident within the past year, or potential for harm in each of the last two years. Source: CMS.
What health inspectors found (on-site government inspections — the most independent evidence available)
Health inspection rating: ★☆☆☆☆1/5 · CMS overall rating: 1/5
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)
▲ Immediate jeopardy, repeated · May 31, 2024 · 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 (K): A life-threatening or extremely dangerous situation affected several residents. Among the most serious findings an inspection can produce.
Corrected: Jul 29, 2024 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)
▲ Actual harm, one-off · Jan 12, 2026 · 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: Jan 27, 2026 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)
▲ Actual harm, one-off · Jul 10, 2024 · F-0600 · triggered by a complaint
The facility did not protect residents from abuse or neglect. This covers physical, mental, and sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect, by anyone — staff, other residents, or visitors.
Why it matters: Abuse and neglect cause direct physical and emotional harm and are among the most serious failures a nursing home can have.
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 29, 2024 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)
▲ Actual harm, one-off · May 31, 2024 · F-0805 · triggered by a complaint
The facility did not prepare and serve food in a form that meets each resident's individual needs — for example, chopped, pureed, or softened food for residents with chewing or swallowing problems.
Why it matters: Food served in the wrong texture can cause choking or lead residents to stop eating and lose weight.
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 10, 2024 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)
▲ Actual harm, repeated · Apr 19, 2024 · F-0600
The facility did not protect residents from abuse or neglect. This covers physical, mental, and sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect, by anyone — staff, other residents, or visitors.
Why it matters: Abuse and neglect cause direct physical and emotional harm and are among the most serious failures a nursing home can have.
Severity (H): Multiple residents were actually harmed by the same failure — a pattern of real harm, not an isolated incident.
Corrected: Jul 29, 2024 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)
All citations in the current public record (51)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 12, 2026 | ▲ 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 |
| Mar 27, 2025 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not protect residents from abuse or neglect. This covers physical, mental, and sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect, by anyone — staff, other residents, or visitors. · from a complaint |
| Mar 27, 2025 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not run an ongoing quality assurance committee that reviews care problems and creates plans to fix them. · from a complaint |
| Feb 7, 2025 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | The facility did not honor residents' right to voice complaints without discrimination or retaliation, or did not have a working complaint process that resolves issues promptly. |
| Feb 7, 2025 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | The facility did not protect residents from abuse or neglect. This covers physical, mental, and sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect, by anyone — staff, other residents, or visitors. |
| Feb 7, 2025 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not accurately assess a resident's health and needs. Assessments are the foundation for all the care a resident receives. |
| Feb 7, 2025 | 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. |
| Feb 7, 2025 | 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 |
| Feb 7, 2025 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not develop and follow policies and procedures for offering residents flu and pneumonia vaccinations. |
| Jan 3, 2025 | 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. · from a complaint |
| Jul 10, 2024 | ▲ G · Actual harm, one-off | The facility did not protect residents from abuse or neglect. This covers physical, mental, and sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect, by anyone — staff, other residents, or visitors. · from a complaint |
| Jul 10, 2024 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | 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. · from a complaint |
| Jul 10, 2024 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | 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 |
| Jul 10, 2024 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | The facility did not make sure its nurses and nurse aides had the skills and training needed to properly care for every resident. · from a complaint |
| Jul 10, 2024 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | The facility did not run an ongoing quality assurance committee that reviews care problems and creates plans to fix them. · from a complaint |
| May 31, 2024 | ▲ K · Immediate jeopardy, repeated | 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 |
| May 31, 2024 | ▲ G · Actual harm, one-off | The facility did not prepare and serve food in a form that meets each resident's individual needs — for example, chopped, pureed, or softened food for residents with chewing or swallowing problems. · from a complaint |
| May 31, 2024 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | The facility was not managed in a way that uses its money, staff, and resources effectively and efficiently to care for residents. · from a complaint |
| May 31, 2024 | 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. · from a complaint |
| May 31, 2024 | 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. · from a complaint |
| May 31, 2024 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not serve meals and snacks at times that fit residents' needs, preferences, and requests, or did not offer nourishing alternatives for residents who want to eat outside scheduled meal times. · from a complaint |
| Apr 19, 2024 | ▲ H · Actual harm, repeated | The facility did not protect residents from abuse or neglect. This covers physical, mental, and sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect, by anyone — staff, other residents, or visitors. |
| Apr 19, 2024 | 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. |
| Apr 19, 2024 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | The facility did not provide a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment, including safe support for residents' daily living needs. |
| Apr 19, 2024 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | The facility did not honor residents' right to voice complaints without discrimination or retaliation, or did not have a working complaint process that resolves issues promptly. |
| Apr 19, 2024 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | 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. |
| Apr 19, 2024 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | The facility did not have enough staff with the right skills to meet the mental and behavioral health needs of its residents, such as those living with dementia or depression. |
| Apr 19, 2024 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | The facility did not provide the right treatment and services for residents with dementia or signs of dementia. Dementia care requires specific approaches, training, and patience. |
| Apr 19, 2024 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | The facility did not conduct and document a facility-wide assessment of what staff, supplies, and resources it needs to care for its residents properly — during everyday operations, nights, weekends, and emergencies. |
| Apr 19, 2024 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not honor residents' right to make their own choices about their daily lives, such as when to wake up, what to eat, or how to spend their time. |
| Apr 19, 2024 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not provide care that took into account residents' past trauma or their cultural backgrounds. Care is supposed to be sensitive to what residents have lived through and where they come from. |
| Apr 19, 2024 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not keep residents free from significant medication errors — such as giving the wrong drug, the wrong dose, or missing a critical medication. |
| Apr 19, 2024 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility was not managed in a way that uses its money, staff, and resources effectively and efficiently to care for residents. |
| Mar 20, 2024 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | 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. · from a complaint |
| Mar 20, 2024 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | The facility did not provide a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment, including safe support for residents' daily living needs. · from a complaint |
| Nov 21, 2023 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | 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. · from a complaint |
| Nov 21, 2023 | 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. · from a complaint |
| Sep 28, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not protect residents from abuse or neglect. This covers physical, mental, and sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect, by anyone — staff, other residents, or visitors. · from a complaint |
| Sep 28, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility transferred or discharged a resident without a valid reason, or failed to provide the required documentation and information when moving a resident out. · from a complaint |
| Sep 28, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not let a resident return after a hospital stay or approved leave that lasted longer than the facility's bed-hold policy allowed. Residents generally have the right to come back to the next available bed. · from a complaint |
| Sep 6, 2023 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | The facility did not provide a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment, including safe support for residents' daily living needs. · from a complaint |
| Sep 6, 2023 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | 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. · from a complaint |
| Sep 6, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not label drugs according to professional standards or did not store them in locked compartments, with controlled drugs (medications with a high risk of misuse) kept under a separate lock. · from a complaint |
| May 12, 2023 | 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. |
| May 12, 2023 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | The facility did not honor residents' right to form and take part in resident or family groups, such as a resident council. |
| May 12, 2023 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | The facility did not keep the environment free of accident hazards, or did not provide enough supervision to prevent accidents like falls. |
| May 12, 2023 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | The facility did not provide enough food and fluids to keep residents healthy, such as preventing unplanned weight loss or dehydration. |
| May 12, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility allowed residents to lose the ability to do daily activities — like bathing, dressing, and eating — when there was no medical reason for the decline. Good care helps residents keep the abilities they have. |
| May 12, 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. |
| May 12, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not provide necessary behavioral health care and services — support for residents' mental and emotional wellbeing, including conditions like depression and anxiety. |
| May 12, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not provide the right treatment and services for residents with dementia or signs of dementia. Dementia care requires specific approaches, training, and patience. |
Inspection trend by year
Citations from standard inspections decreased between the last two inspection cycles (12 → 6).
| Year | Citations | Serious (G–L) | Worst severity that year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 16 | 0 | F |
| 2024 | 25 | 4 | K ▲ |
| 2025 | 9 | 0 | E |
| 2026 | 1 | 1 | G ▲ |
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)
1 fine totaling $171,403, plus 1 Medicare payment denial period.
| Date | Type | Amount / length |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 20, 2024 | Fine | $171,403 |
| Mar 20, 2024 | Payment Denial | 39 days from Jun 20, 2024 |
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) | 3.22 | 3.94 | 3.95 | bottom 23% in Pennsylvania; bottom 23% in the U.S. |
| Registered Nurse hours | 0.31 | 0.80 | 0.69 | bottom 2% in Pennsylvania; bottom 11% in the U.S. |
| Weekend total nurse staffing | 2.91 | 3.58 | 3.50 | bottom 22% in Pennsylvania; bottom 26% in the U.S. |
| Weekend RN hours (not acuity-adjusted) | 0.18 | 0.56 | 0.48 | bottom 2% in Pennsylvania; bottom 9% in the U.S. |
| Total nursing staff turnover (%) | 36.2 | 44.5 | 45.8 | top 27% in Pennsylvania; top 27% in the U.S. |
| RN turnover (%) | 45.5 | 39.9 | 42.9 | bottom 37% in Pennsylvania; bottom 43% 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 3.35, RN 0.33, weekend 3.03. Staffing rating: 2/5.
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: 3/5 · long-stay residents: 4/5 · short-stay residents: 3/5
Who owns this facility
For profit - Corporation
| Owner / manager | Type | Role | Stake | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benjamin N. Volpe Family Dynasty Trust (dated December 29, 2020) | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 01/01/2023 |
| Benyo, Philip | Individual | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 02/12/2018 |
| BNV Dynasty LLC | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 01/01/2023 |
| Cibc Bank USA | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 05/02/2022 |
| Citrin Cooperman Advisors LLC | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 02/12/2018 |
| Decanted William I. Weisberg Family Dynasty Trust (dated Sept 30, 2020 | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 01/01/2023 |
| Mountain City Re Group, LLC | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 05/02/2022 |
| Nicoluzakis, Gregory | Individual | Corporate Officer | NOT APPLICABLE | 03/01/2019 |
| Nicoluzakis, Gregory | Individual | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 03/01/2019 |
| RKL LLP | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 01/26/2023 |
| Saber Governance LLC | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 09/01/2019 |
| Saber Healthcare Group LLC | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 02/12/2018 |
| Sakalas, Lori | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 05/06/2024 |
| Sakalas, Lori | Individual | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 05/06/2024 |
| SHG Management LLC | Organization | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 09/01/2019 |
| SHG Management LLC | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 09/01/2019 |
| SHG Recs, LLC | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 05/02/2022 |
| Shutt, Patrice | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 08/15/2023 |
| Shutt, Patrice | Individual | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 08/15/2023 |
| Volpe, Benjamin | Individual | Corporate Director | NOT APPLICABLE | 03/01/2019 |
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?"
- "Tell me about this abuse or neglect citation — what happened, and what specific changes did you make afterward?"
- "How do you handle residents who need modified food textures, and how do you make those meals appetizing?"
- "How does your quality committee work, and can you give an example of a problem it recently identified and fixed?"
- "Walk me through what happens when a resident or family files a grievance — who responds and how fast?"
- "Who completes resident assessments here, and how do you check them for accuracy?"
- "How do you keep residents' medical records accurate, complete, and secure?"
- "What percentage of your residents and staff are vaccinated against flu and pneumonia, and how do you offer the vaccines?"
- "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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pavilion at St Luke Village, the | 1.8 mi | Hazleton, PA | ★★☆☆☆ | 2/5 | |
| Manor at St Luke Village,the | 1.8 mi | Hazleton, PA | ★★☆☆☆ | 2/5 | |
| Kadima Rehabilitation & Nursing at Luzerne | 6.2 mi | Drums, PA | ★☆☆☆☆ | 1/5 | |
| Forest Hills Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center | 8.5 mi | Weatherly, PA | ★☆☆☆☆ | 2/5 | abuse |
| Greenwood Center for Nursing and Rehab | 9.5 mi | Tamaqua, PA | ★☆☆☆☆ | 1/5 | |
| St Luke's Rehabilitation and Nursing Center | 10.1 mi | Coaldale, PA | ★★★★★ | 4/5 | |
| Mountain Top Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center | 13.8 mi | Mountain Top, PA | ★★☆☆☆ | 2/5 | abuse |
| Mahoning Operating LLC | 14.4 mi | Lehighton, PA | ★★★☆☆ | 3/5 | |
| Shenandoah Senior Living Community | 15.0 mi | Shenandoah, PA | ★☆☆☆☆ | 1/5 | |
| Ridgeview Healthcare & Rehab Center | 15.2 mi | Shenandoah, PA | ★☆☆☆☆ | 1/5 |
Compare this facility with the 3 closest →
Facility data as of CMS processing date 2026-08-01. CCN 395582.