Northcrest Specialty Care

Safety & Inspections

Health deficiencies

National median: 7

8 above national median

CMS data as of January 1, 2026

Staffing breakdown

Average hours of nursing care each resident receives per day, by staff role. Higher numbers generally indicate more attentive care.

Total nurse staffing

National median: 4.12 hrs

4.03 hrs near national median

Registered nurse (RN)

0.80 hrs

Licensed practical nurse (LPN)

0.53 hrs

Certified nursing aide (CNA)

2.28 hrs

Physical therapy

0.05 hrs

Quality rating trend

Overall rating stable at 2 stars across 18 data points.

Facility profile

Type

Skilled Nursing Facility · Hospital · Emergency care service

Capacity

94 certified beds · ~81 avg residents/day (86% occupancy)

Ownership

Non profit - Corporation

Payment accepted

Medicare Medicaid (Medicare and Medicaid)

About

Northcrest Specialty Care is a nonprofit, 94-bed skilled nursing facility located in Waterloo, Iowa. It holds a 2-star overall rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, based on a 2-star health inspection score and 4-star ratings for both staffing and quality measures. The facility is operated as a corporate entity providing long-term care and rehabilitation services.

Location

2001health Street, Waterloo, IA, 50703, Waterloo, IA

Recent reviews

• My Name ★☆☆☆☆ February 5, 2026

  The front desk lady in the er was so rude and hateful. Im already not ok and have hearing issues. Got irritated with me when I told her I cant hear her. Having symptoms like when I had my last stroke and when I tried to inform them. She ignored me and said its going to be a long time. Ive already been waiting over 3 hours.

• jeremy hansen ★☆☆☆☆ January 20, 2026

  My name is Christian Hartings. Im using my husbands account to post here. I was transported to Waterloo ICU for 1 1/2 hrs from my home in Iowa after I had collapsed in front of my house after severely hitting my head a week earlier. I had been in an ER closer by for that two days prior. The decision was made by my primary care doctor and the emergency nurse from my usual hospital that i should be send to waterloo ( after checking with several hospitals) to receive an emergency EEG to see if my brain is malfunctioning. I have been mistreated in this hospital - i dont even want to call it that - to an extent that terrified me: The neurologist Melissa McMillan ignored the order, an eeg was not performed. I had passed out another time in the ICU and was brutalized by nurses that performed a violent knuckle rub that left my sternum area heavily bruised. The next day I was told they would try to get me out of the ICU to a regular unit to observe me another night or two. Neurologist McMillan visited me. She tried to convince me im suffering from anxiety and stress, that i would benefit from seeing a psychiatrist. Besides the fact known by her, that i had suffered a severe TBI more than a decade prior that left me with multiple neorological problems. I pushed back on this ridiculous assessment. She felt visibly offended. Another hour later or so I was ask by Miss McMillan if I was "ok" to go home" because there was no bed in the regular unit and they needed the ICU bed available. I was shocked by this, but left. My partner took me home and had to leave to take care of my elderly father in law. Not shortly after he left I passed out at home alone. I woke up again before my he came back. I dont know how long i was out. There were a couple of more things astray at the ICU and with miss McMillan i dont see the need to mention here. This is my experience with Waterloo hospital and especially Melissa McMillan. I felt humiliated, ridiculed, mistreated, violated in my patient rights and most of all endangered and fearing for my well-being. The polar opposite of what i should have felt. Here are the facts. I let you be the judge. Me personally i find this lack of care, competence and compassion by medical staff and doctors there unbelievable, shocking, dehumanizing and flat out cruel. I read many people calling for this hospital to be sued. And thats exactly what Im gonna set out to do, besides filing formal complaints with the American Medical Association and the Iowa Medical Board. Miss MCMillan you should be absolutely ashamed for what you have done to me. You have ignored the oath you took, have shaken my trust in the medical system to the core and thats not even the worst you have done to me. I deeply hope god - and by his will - the legal system will punish you for this... As i saw your response to my post: Id rather crawl through the snow at night for help than ever coming to your clinic again. When I see all the damning reviews, I can only come to one conclusion: Mercy One Waterloo should be investigated by authorities and medical boards

• Matthew ★★★★★ January 6, 2026

  ... honestly, a great group. Kept me alive when I had pneumonia. - ( put me in a medically induced coma for four days, then brought me back to life. ... THANK YOU & GODSPEED

• Jamie Chaney ★☆☆☆☆ November 8, 2025

  Absolutely the worst place to go for care. Mother was ambulanced there for multiple symptoms, they ran alot of tests, last test was a spinal tap, shortly after she was discharged without even seeing the nuro doctor! They said she was too busy in clinic to see her. Left with no diagnosis, 2 days later they call to get injections in her neck!! Never ever go there!

• Katie Croatt ★☆☆☆☆ November 7, 2025

  The worst hospital I've ever been to. No communication, care, or attentiveness. I was called a drug seeker by a nurse. Denied Tylenol when I was feverish. Absolutely hell on earth.

Frequently asked questions

What is the overall CMS rating for Northcrest Specialty Care?

Northcrest Specialty Care has an overall CMS rating of 2 out of 5 stars.

How did Northcrest Specialty Care score on health inspections?

Northcrest Specialty Care received a health inspection rating of 2 out of 5 stars from CMS.

What is the staffing rating for Northcrest Specialty Care?

Northcrest Specialty Care has a staffing rating of 4 out of 5 stars, based on nurse-to-resident ratios.

How many beds does Northcrest Specialty Care have?

Northcrest Specialty Care has 94 certified beds.

Does Northcrest Specialty Care accept Medicare or Medicaid?

Yes, Northcrest Specialty Care accepts Medicare and Medicaid.

Where is Northcrest Specialty Care located?

Northcrest Specialty Care is located at 2001health Street, Waterloo, IA, 50703, Waterloo, Iowa.

How can I contact Northcrest Specialty Care?

You can reach Northcrest Specialty Care by phone at +1 319-234-4423.

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