St Mary Health Care Center

Name: St Mary Health Care Center
Address: 39 QUEEN STREET, Worcester, MA, 01610, US
Telephone: 5087534791

39 Queen Street, Worcester, MA 01610 · Worcester County · 172 certified beds · avg 119 residents/day · certified since Nov 10, 1987

Part of chain: COVENANT HEALTH (8 facilities, chain avg rating 3.0★)

2/5

Health inspection rating (on-site)

Serious findings on record

$8,788

Fines, last 3 years

4.20

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.

Most serious findings (actual harm or immediate jeopardy)

▲ Actual harm, one-off · Oct 29, 2025 · F-0684 · triggered by a complaint

The facility did not provide treatment and care that follows the doctor's orders and matches the resident's own preferences and goals.

Why it matters: Care that strays from doctor's orders or ignores the resident's wishes can lead to declining health and avoidable harm.

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: Nov 25, 2025 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)

All citations in the current public record (27)

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 14, 2026	E · Potential for harm, repeated	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.
Apr 14, 2026	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.
Apr 14, 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 14, 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.
Apr 14, 2026	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.
Apr 14, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	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 14, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not develop and follow policies and procedures for offering residents flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Oct 29, 2025	▲ G · Actual 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
Oct 29, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not immediately notify the resident, their doctor, and a family member when something significant happened — such as an injury, a decline in health, or a room change. Families and doctors are entitled to know right away. · from a complaint
Jun 23, 2025	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not treat residents with respect and dignity, or did not let them keep and use their own personal belongings. · from a complaint
Dec 18, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not reassess a resident after a significant change in their condition, such as a sudden decline in health. A full new assessment is required when a resident's condition changes in a major way.
Dec 18, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not coordinate resident assessments with the state's pre-admission screening program for mental illness and intellectual disabilities, or failed to refer residents for the special services they need.
Dec 18, 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.
Dec 18, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide appropriate treatment and services to residents with a mental health condition, difficulty adjusting emotionally, or a history of trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Dec 18, 2024	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.
Dec 18, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not have an agreement with an approved laboratory to provide lab services, even though it doesn't offer lab services on site.
Dec 18, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide timely, approved x-ray services or have an agreement with an approved provider to supply them.
Dec 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.
Dec 18, 2024	C · Minimal risk, facility-wide	The facility did not post its nurse staffing information every day. Nursing homes must publicly display how many nurses and aides are on duty each day.
Oct 17, 2023	F · Potential for harm, facility-wide	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.
Oct 17, 2023	E · Potential for harm, repeated	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.
Oct 17, 2023	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.
Oct 17, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not immediately notify the resident, their doctor, and a family member when something significant happened — such as an injury, a decline in health, or a room change. Families and doctors are entitled to know right away.
Oct 17, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not properly complete the required screening (called PASARR) that identifies whether a person entering a nursing home has a mental illness or intellectual disability and needs specialized services.
Oct 17, 2023	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.
Oct 17, 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.
Oct 17, 2023	C · Minimal risk, facility-wide	The facility did not post its nurse staffing information every day. Nursing homes must publicly display how many nurses and aides are on duty each day.

Inspection trend by year

Citations from standard inspections stayed about the same across the last two inspection cycles (9 → 7).

Year	Citations	Serious (G–L)	Worst severity that year
2023	8	0	F
2024	9	0	D
2025	3	1	G ▲
2026	7	0	E

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 $8,788.

Date	Type	Amount / length
Oct 29, 2025	Fine	$8,788

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

Measure	This facility	Massachusetts avg	U.S. avg	Where it stands
Total nurse staffing (hours per resident per day)	4.20	3.89	3.95	top 25% in Massachusetts; top 32% in the U.S.
Registered Nurse hours	0.46	0.65	0.69	bottom 23% in Massachusetts; bottom 32% in the U.S.
Weekend total nurse staffing	3.99	3.51	3.50	top 18% in Massachusetts; top 23% in the U.S.
Weekend RN hours (not acuity-adjusted)	0.25	0.46	0.48	bottom 18% in Massachusetts; bottom 22% in the U.S.
Total nursing staff turnover (%)	30.6	38.2	45.8	top 29% in Massachusetts; top 15% in the U.S.
RN turnover (%)	33.3	42.6	42.9	top 31% in Massachusetts; top 33% 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 3.54, RN 0.39, weekend 3.37. Staffing rating: 4/5.

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: 4/5 · long-stay residents: 4/5 · short-stay residents: —/5

Who owns this facility

Non profit - Corporation

Owner / manager	Type	Role	Stake	Since
Becker, David	Individual	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	07/09/2016
Becker, David	Individual	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	07/09/2016
Boyle, Melissa	Individual	Managing Control - Governing Body	NOT APPLICABLE	03/01/2011
Boyle, Melissa	Individual	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	03/01/2011
Castillo, Nicole	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	05/18/2018
Castillo, Nicole	Individual	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	05/18/2018
Castillo, Nicole	Individual	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	05/18/2018
Covenant Health	Organization	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	06/01/1998
Covenant Health	Organization	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	06/01/1998
Doty, Ronald	Individual	Managing Control - Governing Body	NOT APPLICABLE	11/12/2020
Doty, Ronald	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	11/12/2020
Doty, Ronald	Individual	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	11/12/2020
Doty, Ronald	Individual	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	11/12/2020
Forney, Stephen	Individual	Corporate Officer	NOT APPLICABLE	09/16/2019
Forney, Stephen	Individual	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	09/16/2019
Freije, Richard	Individual	Managing Control - Governing Body	NOT APPLICABLE	01/01/2007
Freije, Richard	Individual	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	01/01/2007
Garcia, Holly	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	10/21/2019
Garcia, Holly	Individual	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	10/21/2019
Grubbs, Stephen	Individual	Corporate Officer	NOT APPLICABLE	09/24/2018

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 do you do daily to keep residents moving, and how do you help residents at risk of losing mobility?"
"How do you verify that your nurses and aides have the skills to care for residents with needs like my family member's?"
"Who is on the team that builds each resident's care plan, and how quickly is it in place after admission?"
"How do you decide when a feeding tube is truly needed, and how do staff care for residents who have one?"
"Can you show me how medications are stored and secured on the units, including controlled drugs?"
"What did your most recent kitchen inspection find, and can I see how food is stored and prepared?"
"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
West Side House LTC Facility	0.7 mi	Worcester, MA	★★★★★	5/5
Lutheran Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Center	1.1 mi	Worcester, MA	★★★★★	5/5
Worcester Rehabilitation & Health Care Center	1.3 mi	Worcester, MA	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
Vantage at Worcester LLC	1.5 mi	Worcester, MA	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
St Francis Rehabilitation & Nursing Center	1.6 mi	Worcester, MA	★★★★☆	3/5
Blaire House of Worcester	1.6 mi	Worcester, MA	★★★☆☆	3/5
Hermitage Healthcare (the)	1.9 mi	Worcester, MA	★★☆☆☆	3/5
Christopher House of Worcester	2.1 mi	Worcester, MA	★★★☆☆	3/5
Parsons Hill Rehabilitation & Health Care Center	2.2 mi	Worcester, MA	★★☆☆☆	2/5
Holy Trinity Eastern Orthodox N & R Center	2.8 mi	Worcester, MA	★★★★★	5/5
Jewish Healthcare Center	2.8 mi	Worcester, MA	★★★★☆	4/5
Odd Fellows Home of Massachusetts	2.9 mi	Worcester, MA	★★☆☆☆	3/5

Compare this facility with the 3 closest →

All facilities in Worcester →

Facility data as of CMS processing date 2026-08-01. CCN 225305.

The Care File

Visit checklist — St Mary Health Care Center

39 Queen Street, Worcester, MA 01610 · 5087534791

Health inspection rating 2/5 · CMS overall 2/5· Fines (3y): $8,788

Most serious findings on record:

▲ Oct 29, 2025 (F-0684, Actual 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.

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 do you do daily to keep residents moving, and how do you help residents at risk of losing mobility?"
☐ "How do you verify that your nurses and aides have the skills to care for residents with needs like my family member's?"
☐ "Who is on the team that builds each resident's care plan, and how quickly is it in place after admission?"
☐ "How do you decide when a feeding tube is truly needed, and how do staff care for residents who have one?"
☐ "Can you show me how medications are stored and secured on the units, including controlled drugs?"
☐ "What did your most recent kitchen inspection find, and can I see how food is stored and prepared?"
☐ "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?"

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 225305 · Verify at medicare.gov/care-compare · Printed from The Care File (thecarefile.com)