STEPHENSON NURSING CENTER

Stephenson Nursing Center is a skilled nursing facility located at 2946 South Walnut Road in Freeport, Illinois (ZIP code 61032). The facility operates under government ownership at the county level and is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. It has a total of 148 certified beds, making it a mid-to-large sized long-term care provider within Stephenson County. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) assigns star ratings to nursing facilities based on three primary domains: health inspections, staffing levels, and quality measures. Stephenson Nursing Center holds an overall CMS rating of 3 stars, which is consistent with the national average of 3.0 stars. The health inspection rating stands at 3 stars, reflecting standard survey outcomes relative to other facilities in Illinois and nationally. The quality measure rating is also 3 stars, indicating performance on clinical outcome metrics that falls in line with national norms. The staffing rating is 2 stars, which falls below the national average and indicates lower reported staffing levels relative to the size and resident population of the facility. Staffing ratings are based on reported hours of care provided per resident per day, including data for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants. Stephenson Nursing Center is certified to accept both Medicare and Medicaid as payment sources. Medicare typically covers short-term skilled nursing or rehabilitation stays following a qualifying hospital admission, subject to specific conditions and time limits. Medicaid may cover longer-term custodial care for individuals who meet financial and clinical eligibility requirements under Illinois state guidelines. Individuals and families seeking to confirm current payment policies, bed availability, or coverage details should contact the facility directly at (815) 235-6173. When considered alongside national benchmarks, Stephenson Nursing Center presents a mixed profile. Its overall, health inspection, and quality measure ratings each align with the national 3-star average, suggesting performance in those areas is comparable to typical facilities across the country. However, the 2-star staffing rating indicates a notable gap in reported staffing levels compared to national norms, which may be a relevant factor for those researching care options in the Freeport area. As a county-owned facility, Stephenson Nursing Center operates under public accountability structures distinct from for-profit or private nonprofit providers, which may influence its governance and operational priorities. All rating data is sourced from CMS and is subject to periodic updates based on new inspection cycles and staffing reports.