Bickford Cottage Fort Dodge
State licensed1536 20th Ave N, Ft Dodge, IA 50501
Assisted LivingMemory Care
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Medicare-certifiedSkilled Nursing
Fort Dodge Health and Rehabilitation
Fort Dodge, IowaMedicare inspection record
About Fort Dodge Health and Rehabilitation
Fort Dodge Health and Rehabilitation is a for profit - corporation nursing home in Fort Dodge, IA with 65 certified beds.
Community at a glance
Capacity
65 residents
Location
Fort Dodge, IA
Status
Listed in a public registry
Care & services offered
Skilled Nursing
Contact & location
728 14th Avenue North, Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501
Medicare inspection record
From CMS Care Compare, the federal record every Medicare-certified nursing home is held to. Data as of September 1, 2026. Check it on Medicare.gov
At its most recent standard inspection, on February 26, 2026, state inspectors cited 18 health deficiencies (the Iowa average is 6.5).
Nurses and nurse aides spend 3 hours 11 minutes with each resident a day, below the Iowa average of 3 hours 49 minutes.
Medicare fined Fort Dodge Health and Rehabilitation 2 times in the last three years, $166,043 in total.
Staffing
| Measure | This home |
|---|---|
| Nurse and aide time per resident, per day | 3 hours 11 minutesBelow the Iowa average |
| Registered nurse time per resident, per day | 30 minutesBelow the Iowa average |
| Nursing staff who left in the past year | 49%Above the Iowa average |
Inspections
46 health citations in the last three years. Each one is a federal standard inspectors found the home was not meeting.
February 26, 2026 · Standard inspection · 17 citations
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Residents were harmed, a few residents (level G)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Mar 3, 2026Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Residents were harmed, a few residents (level G)Quality of Life and CareFrom a complaintCorrected Mar 3, 2026Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsCorrected Mar 3, 2026Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsCorrected Mar 3, 2026Provide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsCorrected Mar 3, 2026Ensure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Mar 3, 2026Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)AdministrationCorrected Mar 3, 2026Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Pharmacy ServiceCorrected Mar 3, 2026Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Infection ControlCorrected Mar 3, 2026Help the resident with transportation to and from laboratory services outside of the facility.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)AdministrationCorrected Mar 3, 2026Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningCorrected Mar 3, 2026Educate residents and staff on COVID-19 vaccination, offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents and staff after education, and properly document each resident and staff member's vaccination status.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Infection ControlCorrected Mar 3, 2026Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Mar 3, 2026Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Mar 3, 2026Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Infection ControlCorrected Mar 3, 2026Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningCorrected Mar 3, 2026Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningCorrected Mar 3, 2026
November 17, 2025 · Complaint investigation · 1 citation
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Residents were harmed, a few residents (level G)Quality of Life and CareFrom a complaintCorrected Nov 20, 2025
August 27, 2025 · Complaint investigation · 5 citations+
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Immediate danger to residents, a few residents (level J)Quality of Life and CareFrom a complaintCorrected Oct 2, 2025Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a pattern (level E)Resident RightsFrom a complaintCorrected Oct 2, 2025Assess the resident completely in a timely manner when first admitted, and then periodically, at least every 12 months.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningFrom a complaintCorrected Oct 2, 2025Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningFrom a complaintCorrected Oct 2, 2025Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsFrom a complaintCorrected Oct 2, 2025
May 22, 2025 · Complaint investigation · 2 citations+
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Residents were harmed, a few residents (level G)Quality of Life and CareFrom a complaintCorrected Jun 10, 2025Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Pharmacy ServiceFrom a complaintCorrected Jun 10, 2025
March 27, 2025 · Complaint investigation · 2 citations+
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareFrom a complaintCorrected Apr 17, 2025Obtain a doctor's order to admit a resident and ensure the resident is under a doctor's care.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Nursing and Physician ServicesFrom a complaintCorrected Apr 17, 2025
January 15, 2025 · Standard inspection · 3 citations+
Provide or get specialized rehabilitative services as required for a resident.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareFrom a complaintCorrected Jan 31, 2025Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningFrom a complaintCorrected Jan 31, 2025Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Nursing and Physician ServicesFrom a complaintCorrected Jan 31, 2025
July 18, 2024 · Complaint investigation · 2 citations+
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and ExploitationFrom a complaintCorrected Jul 19, 2024Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsFrom a complaintCorrected Jul 19, 2024
March 7, 2024 · Standard inspection · 14 citations+
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Residents were harmed, a few residents (level G)Quality of Life and CareFrom a complaintCorrected Mar 29, 2024Make sure there is a pest control program to prevent/deal with mice, insects, or other pests.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, widespread (level F)EnvironmentalFrom a complaintCorrected Mar 29, 2024Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a pattern (level E)Nutrition and DietaryCorrected Mar 29, 2024Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a pattern (level E)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningFrom a complaintCorrected Mar 29, 2024Give their staff education on dementia care, and what abuse, neglect, and exploitation are; and how to report abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a pattern (level E)Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and ExploitationCorrected Mar 29, 2024Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Nursing and Physician ServicesFrom a complaintCorrected Mar 29, 2024Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningCorrected Mar 29, 2024Notify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsCorrected Mar 29, 2024Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningCorrected Mar 29, 2024Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsCorrected Mar 29, 2024Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Mar 29, 2024Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningCorrected Mar 29, 2024Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningCorrected Mar 29, 2024Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsCorrected Mar 29, 2024
Fines and payment denials
2 fines totaling $166,043 in the last three years.
- February 26, 2026Fine: $30,745
- August 27, 2025Fine: $135,298
About the home, per Medicare
- Ownership
- For profit - Corporation
- Legal business name
- Gypsum Creek Healthcare, Inc.
- Medicare-certified beds
- 65
- Average residents per day
- 60
- Accepts
- Medicare and Medicaid
- First certified
- July 17, 1990
- Part of a chain
- The Ensign Group, 344 homes
- Inside a hospital
- No
- Continuing care retirement community
- No
- Resident or family council
- Resident
- Sprinklers in all required areas
- Yes
- CMS Certification Number
- 165156
Location
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728 14th Avenue NorthFort Dodge, IA 50501
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Questions about Fort Dodge Health and Rehabilitation
How did Fort Dodge Health and Rehabilitation do on its last inspection?+
State inspectors visited on February 26, 2026 and cited 18 health deficiencies, 2 of them from complaint investigations. The Iowa average is 6.5.
How much nursing care does each resident get at Fort Dodge Health and Rehabilitation?+
Nurses and aides spend 3 hours 11 minutes with each resident per day, including 30 minutes from registered nurses. 49% of nursing staff left over the past year.
Has Fort Dodge Health and Rehabilitation been fined by Medicare?+
Yes. Medicare fined Fort Dodge Health and Rehabilitation 2 times in the last three years, totaling $166,043.
Does Medicare cover skilled nursing?+
Medicare covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing per benefit period after a qualifying 3-day hospital stay — fully for the first 20 days, then with a daily copay. Long-term custodial stays are generally not covered.
How much does a nursing home cost?+
A semi-private room averages about $7,900 per month nationally; private rooms cost more. Medicaid is the largest payer for long-term nursing home care.
What is the CMS star rating?+
Medicare rates nursing homes 1 to 5 stars on its Care Compare site. We don't repeat those stars here. Each nursing home page shows Medicare's underlying record instead: inspections, staffing and fines, with a link to check it on Medicare.gov.