Overall Score
CMS Five-Star Quality Rating- Much below average
- Below average
- Average
- Above average
- Much above average
Where it ranks
- MaineAbove 80% of peers77 rated homes · average 3.0★
- Aroostook CountyAbove 50% of peers7 rated homes · average 3.4★
- United StatesAbove 80% of peers14,574 rated homes · average 3.0★
How the rating is built
- Health inspectionsStarting point4★+1.2 vs ME avg
- StaffingCan add or remove a star5★+1.1 vs ME avg
- Quality measuresCan add or remove a star2★−0.9 vs ME avg
CMS starts from the health inspection stars, then adds or subtracts a star for staffing and for quality measures. Stars are assigned relative to other facilities in the same state.
Ratings & measures
Tap a row to see what it meansHealth inspection ratingCMS stars from the last three on-site inspection cycles4★Above 68% of peersME avg2.8★U.S. avg2.8★
Stars assigned from the last three standard surveys and every complaint investigation in that window, weighted toward the most recent and the most serious findings. CMS assigns these stars relative to other facilities in the same state.
It carries the most weight in the overall rating and is the only domain based on what trained inspectors saw on site rather than what the facility reported.
Staffing ratingCMS stars from payroll-reported hours and turnover5★Above 78% of peersME avg3.9★U.S. avg2.9★
Nurse and aide hours per resident day from payroll records CMS collects every quarter, adjusted for how much care residents need, plus staff turnover and weekend coverage.
More hours and lower turnover are the strongest predictors of fewer falls, pressure sores, and avoidable hospital stays.
Quality measures ratingCMS stars from clinical outcomes and resident assessments2★Above only 5% of peersME avg2.9★U.S. avg3.6★
Clinical outcomes from resident assessments and Medicare claims: falls with injury, pressure ulcers, hospitalizations, antipsychotic use, and more, for both short-stay and long-stay residents.
It shows whether care is working, but part of it comes from the facility’s own assessments, so read it alongside the inspection results.
Total nurse hoursPer resident per day, all nursing staff4.24hrsAbove 53% of peersME avg4.35Benchmark4.10
All licensed nurse and aide hours worked, divided by the number of residents, on an average day. Reported from payroll, not self-reported.
Federal research links 4.1 hours a day to fewer avoidable harms. Below about 3 hours, residents wait longer for help with basics like toileting and repositioning.
RN hoursPer resident per day, registered nurses only1.16hrsAbove 64% of peersME avg1.05Benchmark0.75
Registered nurse hours only. RNs assess residents, manage medications, and catch changes in condition; LPNs and aides deliver most hands-on care.
RN coverage is the staffing measure most tied to fewer hospital transfers and infections, and it is where thinly staffed facilities cut first.
Nursing staff turnoverShare of nursing staff who left within a year · lower is better34%Above 84% of peersME avg49%RN turnover23%
The share of nursing staff who left within the past year, from the same payroll data.
High turnover means residents are cared for by people who do not know them, and it is one of the strongest predictors of inspection problems.
Fines in the last three yearsCivil money penalties imposed by CMS · lower is better$0Above only 40% of peersME avg$9,948Fines · denials0 · 0
Civil money penalties CMS imposed after serious or uncorrected deficiencies, and denials of Medicare payment for new admissions.
Penalties follow the worst inspection findings. A recent fine is the clearest sign that inspectors found real harm.
Inspection history
Last three inspection cyclesCitations by monthJun 2022 – Oct 2024
- No actual harm (D–F)
- Actual harm (G–I)
- Immediate jeopardy (J–L)
- $Fine or payment denial
Showing
Click a month or a year to filter the findings below. Arrow keys move between months; Esc clears.
Oct 17, 2024Cycle 1worst F · no actual harm
- F883Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.Infection ControlE · patternCorrected Nov 30, 2024
- F550Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.Resident RightsD · isolatedCorrected Nov 27, 2024
- F645PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual DisabilitiesResident Assessment and Care PlanningD · isolatedCorrected Nov 1, 2024
- F657Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.Resident Assessment and Care PlanningD · isolatedCorrected Dec 13, 2024
- F699Provide care or services that was trauma informed and/or culturally competent.Quality of Life and CareD · isolatedCorrected Dec 13, 2024
- F761Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.Pharmacy ServiceD · isolatedCorrected Dec 6, 2024
- F812Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.Nutrition and DietaryE · patternCorrected Nov 27, 2024
- F842Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.Resident Assessment and Care PlanningD · isolatedCorrected Nov 30, 2024
- F880Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.Infection ControlF · widespreadCorrected Nov 27, 2024
Oct 3, 2024Cycle 2worst D · no actual harm
- F677Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.Quality of Life and CareD · isolatedCorrected Nov 14, 2024
Sep 21, 2023Cycle 2worst E · no actual harm
- Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, residentâs preferences and goals.Quality of Life and CareD · isolatedCorrected Nov 5, 2023
- F677Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.Quality of Life and CareD · isolatedCorrected Nov 5, 2023
- F688Provide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.Quality of Life and CareD · isolatedCorrected Nov 5, 2023
- F756Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.Pharmacy ServiceE · patternCorrected Nov 5, 2023
- F758Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.Pharmacy ServiceE · patternCorrected Nov 5, 2023
- F811Ensure that residents are assessed for appropriateness for a feeding assistant program, receive services as per their plan of care, and feeding assistants are trained and supervised.Nutrition and DietaryE · patternCorrected Nov 5, 2023
Jun 22, 2022Cycle 3worst D · no actual harm
- F609Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and ExploitationD · isolatedCorrected Jul 29, 2022
Staffing
From quarterly payroll reportsHours per resident per day
- All nursing staffRNs, LPNs and aides combined4.24hrs
- Registered nursesRN hours only1.16hrs
- Licensed practical nursesLPN hours0.41hrs
- Nurse aidesCNA hours2.67hrs
- Weekend nursingAll staff on Saturdays and Sundays3.50hrs
- Maine average
- Research benchmark (4.10 total, 0.75 RN)
Turnover & capacity
- Nursing staff turnoverShare who left within a year · lower is better34%Above 84% of peersME avg 49%
- RN turnoverRegistered nurses only23%Not ranked by CMS
- Administrators who leftIn the past year1Leadership changed
- Occupancy66 certified beds · ~45 residents a day68%Above only 4% of peersME avg 88%
Fines & penalties
Roughly the past three yearsEnforcement summary
- $0In fines
- 0Fines
- 0Payment denials
- $9,948ME avg in fines
Actions on record
Ownership
As filed with CMSStructure
- Ownership type
- For profit - Corporation
- Chain
- Independent
- Certification
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Location type
- Rural
- Ownership change
- None in the last 12 months
People and entities on file
- Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems Bda Northern Light Health
- Timothy Dentry
- Carol Bell
- Richard Duncan
- John Herweh
- Holly Johnson
- Deborah Roark
- Steve St Pierre
- Bryan Thompson
- Jane Towle
- +1 more
- Samuel Dobson
- Samuel Dobson
Person Organization
Sources & notes
Public data, updated quarterlyData sources
- CMS Care Compare · Provider InformationStar ratings, staffing hours, turnover, penalties and flags · processed February 2026.
- CMS Health CitationsEvery deficiency from the last three inspection cycles, with scope, severity and inspection cycle.
- CMS Penalties and Ownership filesCivil money penalties, payment denials, and the owners and managers on file.
Notes
- CMS Certification Number 205018 · 15 HIGHLAND AVE, MARS HILL, ME, 04758.
- Percentiles compare this facility with every rated nursing home in Maine and Aroostook County. Turnover and fines are inverted so a high percentile is always good.
- This is an informational summary of public data, not medical, legal, or placement advice. Facilities cannot pay to change it; a facility that believes a record is wrong can dispute it with CMS.
