McKenzie County Healthcare Systems Long Term Care

709 4th Avenue Ne · Watford City, ND · 58854 · 7014442331

42 certified beds Non profit - Corporation

Why this verdict

  • Staffing levels are well below research benchmarks for safe care.
  • Inspection results have improved across recent cycles.

The complete Safety Report — $19

Everything on this page plus the full citation-by-citation history with inspector findings, the complete penalty record, staffing vs benchmarks, side-by-side nearby comparisons, and the printable tour checklist. One PDF, emailed in minutes, yours to keep and share with family.

Get the Safety Report

Red flags

No red flags in the current CMS record. Genuinely good news — pair it with an in-person tour before deciding.

Score breakdown

Inspection record 30% of score 70
Serious harm & abuse 20% 94
Staffing 20% 20
Federal penalties 15% 78
Trend 10% 78
Context 5% 100

Quality-measure stars are deliberately excluded — they're largely self-reported by facilities. Full method.

CMS ratings & staffing

Overall: 2 of 5 Inspections: 3 of 5 Staffing: 1 of 5 Quality measures: 3 of 5

Total nurse hours / resident-day3.48 min · 4.1 strong
RN hours / resident-day0.55–0.75
Weekend hours / resident-day≈ weekday level
Nursing turnover / yearmedian 45%
Fines (3-yr window)1 · $6,300

Inspection citations (12 in the current record)

  • Potential for harm · D July 24, 2025

    Allow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.

    Corrected September 5, 2025 · Resident Rights

  • Potential for harm · D July 24, 2025

    Prevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function.

    Corrected September 5, 2025 · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation

  • Potential for harm · D July 24, 2025

    Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.

    Corrected September 5, 2025 · Quality of Life and Care

  • Potential for harm · E July 24, 2025

    Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

    Corrected September 5, 2025 · Infection Control

  • Potential for harm · E June 20, 2024

    Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.

    Corrected July 25, 2024 · Resident Rights

  • Potential for harm · E June 20, 2024

    Notify 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.

    Corrected July 25, 2024 · Resident Rights

  • Potential for harm · D June 20, 2024

    Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.

    Corrected July 25, 2024 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning

  • Actual harm · G August 23, 2023 · found via complaint

    Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

    Corrected July 30, 2023 · Quality of Life and Care

  • Potential for harm · D July 19, 2023

    Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.

    Corrected August 23, 2023 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning

  • Potential for harm · E July 19, 2023

    Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

    Corrected August 23, 2023 · Quality of Life and Care

  • Potential for harm · F July 19, 2023

    Employ sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician.

    Corrected August 23, 2023 · Nutrition and Dietary

  • Potential for harm · E July 19, 2023

    Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

    Corrected August 23, 2023 · Infection Control

Federal penalties

DateTypeAmount / length
July 19, 2023Fine$6,300

Better-scoring options nearby

No better-scoring facility within 25 miles in the current data. See the whole state.

Family & resident reviews — a separate signal, never mixed into the score

No approved reviews yet. If your family has experience with this facility, yours could be the review that helps the next family decide.

Sign in to share your family's experience — reviews are moderated and never affect the Safety Score.

Source: CMS Care Compare (public domain), data as of June 1, 2026 · CCN 355072 · certified since September 1, 1978. The score is a screen, not a verdict on any one resident's experience — read how it's computed, then visit in person.