Ciena Healthcare / Laurel Health Care Company: Chain Profile, Lawsuits, and Investigations

Who Is Ciena Healthcare and Laurel Health Care Company?

Ciena Healthcare Management, Inc. is a for-profit, privately held post-acute healthcare company. It is one of the largest privately owned operators of skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers in Michigan and across its five-state footprint.^[5]

The company was founded in 1998 by Mohammad A. Qazi, a licensed physical therapist, and is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, in the Detroit area.^[5][7] Qazi served for years as president and CEO. In December 2024, Ciena named David Parker — a former ProMedica senior-care division president and longtime HCR ManorCare executive — as chief executive officer, while Qazi shifted to long-range strategy and growth.^[6]

The Laurel Health Care Company — the operator behind the many facilities branded "The Laurels of…" — is the chain's Ohio arm, with corporate offices in Westerville, Ohio.^[10] Ciena and Laurel have publicly described themselves as integrated under a single Ciena Healthcare brand, drawing on what the company calls a roughly 30-year care heritage.^[14] The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) tracks the combined organization as a single affiliated entity: "Ciena Healthcare/Laurel Health Care" (CMS chain ID 144).^[1]

What Kind of Chain Is Ciena / Laurel?

Ciena / Laurel is primarily a skilled nursing facility (SNF) chain. Skilled nursing facilities care for patients who need 24-hour nursing care, often after a hospital stay.^[1] The company also advertises rehabilitation, sub-acute care, specialty programs (including in-house dialysis and ventilator care), memory care, and assisted living at certain campuses.^[4][7] Facilities operate under several brand names, including "The Laurels of…," "Regency at…," and a range of individually named "Manor," "Healthcare Center," and "Village" homes, all tracked by CMS as part of the same affiliated entity.^[1]

How Big Is the Ciena / Laurel Nursing Home Chain?

Ciena / Laurel by the Numbers

Public and company sources describe the chain's size as follows:

Facility, state, and certified-bed counts are from federal CMS data (May 2026 release). Employee count is a figure reported in a published profile of the company's leadership and is not independently audited.^[1][8]

According to federal CMS data published by ProPublica (data as of May 2026), the Ciena Healthcare/Laurel Health Care entity is affiliated with 83 facilities across Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, and Indiana.^[3] By state, CMS data shows 51 facilities in Michigan, 20 in Ohio, 7 in North Carolina, 4 in Virginia, and 1 in Indiana.^[1] A published profile of the company's leadership reported that the Ciena Group owns and manages skilled nursing facilities with more than 8,000 beds, employs over 10,000 people, and generates combined revenues reported to exceed $700 million.^[8]

How Ciena / Laurel Grew

Ciena started in 1998 and spent its early years building a Michigan base, growing into what it describes as the largest privately owned skilled nursing operator in the state.^[5] Over the following two decades it expanded into Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, and Indiana, and integrated the long-established Laurel Health Care Company into the Ciena brand.^[7][14] The chain has continued to invest in higher-acuity services such as dialysis and ventilator units and in new construction and renovations at multiple campuses, and its current leadership has publicly signaled an interest in further growth and acquisitions.^[6]

Is Ciena / Laurel For-Profit or Nonprofit? Revenue and Net Worth

Ciena Healthcare and Laurel Health Care Company operate as a for-profit enterprise. Unlike some larger competitors, the company is privately held and is not publicly traded; there is no public stock or SEC-reported financial statement. In CMS provider records, all 83 affiliated facilities are listed under for-profit ownership structures — corporations, limited liability companies, and individual ownership.^[1]

Because the company is private, audited financial figures are not publicly filed. A published profile of the company's founder reported the Ciena Group's combined revenues as exceeding $700 million, with a workforce of more than 10,000 employees. These are reported figures and are not independently verified here.^[8] Like most nursing home operators, Ciena depends heavily on government healthcare programs; the company's leadership has publicly discussed the large share of its residents covered by Medicare and Medicaid and managed-care plans.^[7]

Ciena / Laurel Nursing Home Facilities

The table below is the complete roster of the 83 nursing facilities affiliated with Ciena Healthcare / Laurel Health Care (CMS chain ID 144), taken directly from the federal CMS Provider Information dataset (May 2026 release). It lists each facility's name, city and state, street address, and phone number, along with any current CMS quality flag. The facility list can change as the company acquires and divests properties, so this roster should be refreshed from the CMS data on each republish.^[1]

The "CMS Flag" column marks homes that CMS has identified as a Special Focus Facility Candidate, behind on inspections ("Delayed inspection"), or carrying an abuse icon. Of the 83 facilities, all are operated as for-profit entities.^[1]

Rows shaded gold carry one or more CMS quality flags. Source: CMS Provider Information dataset, May 2026.^[1] Phone numbers are as listed in CMS provider records and may change.

Special Focus Facilities and SFF Candidates in the Ciena / Laurel Chain

The Special Focus Facility (SFF) program is run by CMS. It identifies nursing homes with a history of serious quality problems and subjects them to heightened oversight. A "Special Focus Facility Candidate" is a home with a history of serious quality issues that has not yet been formally placed in the program.^[3]

According to the federal CMS Provider Information dataset and ProPublica's analysis (May 2026), the Ciena / Laurel chain included 0 formally designated Special Focus Facilities, 3 Special Focus Facility Candidates, and 6 homes whose most recent standard health inspection was more than two years ago. CMS data also showed 6 Ciena / Laurel facilities carrying an abuse icon, meaning they were cited for abuse or neglect at or above a defined harm level.^[1][3]

These designations are reassessed by CMS regularly and can change. The specific facilities below reflect the May 2026 CMS data.

Ciena / Laurel Special Focus Facility Candidates

These 3 facilities were listed as Special Focus Facility Candidates:^[1]

• Ely Manor — Allegan, MI (also carries an abuse icon)
• Notting Hill of West Bloomfield — West Bloomfield, MI (also carries an abuse icon)
• The Laurels of Gahanna — Columbus, OH

Ciena / Laurel Facilities Carrying an Abuse Icon

These 6 facilities carried a CMS abuse icon, indicating a citation for abuse or neglect at or above a defined harm level:^[1]

• Brittany Manor — Midland, MI
• Ely Manor — Allegan, MI
• Notting Hill of West Bloomfield — West Bloomfield, MI
• Regency at Jackson — Jackson, MI
• The Laurels of Sandy Creek — Wayland, MI
• The Laurels of West Columbus — Columbus, OH

Ciena / Laurel Facilities With Delayed Inspections

These 6 facilities had not received a standard health inspection in more than two years as of the May 2026 CMS data (CMS expects inspections roughly every 9 to 15 months):^[1]

• The Laurels of Hamilton — Hamilton, OH
• The Laurels of Huber Heights — Huber Heights, OH
• The Laurels of Massillon — Massillon, OH
• The Laurels of Milford — Milford, OH
• The Laurels of University Park — Richmond, VA
• The Laurels of Willow Creek — Midlothian, VA

Recent Serious Deficiencies

Serious deficiencies are problems that state inspectors, acting for CMS, found caused immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety. Recent examples at Ciena / Laurel homes recorded in CMS data include:

• Regency at Jackson (Jackson, MI), February 27, 2026: cited for failing to procure, store, prepare, and serve food in accordance with professional standards.^[3]
• The Laurels of Sandy Creek (Wayland, MI), October 22, 2025: cited for failing to keep the home free of accident hazards and provide adequate supervision to prevent accidents.^[3]
• The Laurels of Fulton (Perrinton, MI), October 8, 2025: cited for failing to keep the home free of accident hazards and provide adequate supervision to prevent accidents.^[3]

Ciena / Laurel Quality and Staffing Record

Federal data offers a mixed picture of the chain. According to CMS data published by ProPublica (data as of May 2026), the Ciena / Laurel chain averaged:

• 0.3 serious deficiencies per affiliated home over three years (national average: 0.7).^[3]
• 3.6 total nurse staffing hours per resident per day (national average: 3.9).^[3]
• 42.1% nurse turnover over a 12-month period (national average: 46.2%).^[3]
• $34,947 in average total fines per home (national average: $31,434).^[3]

CMS's own chain-level averages for the entity show an average overall rating of 2.9 out of 5 and an average health-inspection rating of 2.6 out of 5, both at or below the midpoint of the five-star scale.^[1] Of the 83 facilities, 35 carried a 1- or 2-star overall rating (17 of them rated 1 star, "much below average"), while 28 were rated 4 or 5 stars — illustrating wide variation from one building to the next.^[1] A low staffing or inspection rating does not, by itself, establish that any particular resident was harmed; it is one publicly reported indicator among many.

Ciena / Laurel Lawsuits, Verdicts, Fines, and Sanctions

Ciena and Laurel facilities have been the subject of litigation, a substantial jury verdict, and federal fines. The matters below are drawn from court filings, the firm's own case record, government data, and published reporting. Except where a verdict is noted, the descriptions reflect allegations that have not been proven in court, and the facilities and companies named are entitled to defend against them.

$5 Million Verdict — Estate of Jack Huls v. Laurel Health Care Company (The Laurels of Mt. Vernon)

In June 2022, Michael Hill of Michael Hill Trial Law obtained a $5 million jury verdict against The Laurels of Mt. Vernon and its parent, Laurel Health Care Company, in a case involving a failure to recognize signs of infection that led to delayed treatment and death from sepsis. It is reported as the largest verdict in Knox County, Ohio history and the largest verdict against any Laurels facility.^[10]

The Laurels of Walden Park — Wrongful-Death Lawsuit (Filed 2024)

A wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Michael Hill Trial Law in Franklin County, Ohio — Estate of Henrietta Wilson v. Laurel Health Care Company, et al. — alleges that staff at the 225-bed Columbus facility failed to recognize or act on signs of infection over several days in January 2023. The resident was later diagnosed with sepsis and multiple organ failure and died the day after she was transferred to a hospital. The complaint includes claims for negligence, wrongful death, violations of resident rights, fraud, and civil conspiracy, and alleges the chain systematically understaffed facilities to maximize profit. These remain allegations; the litigation has not been adjudicated.^[10]

The Laurels of Heath — Wrongful-Death Lawsuit (Filed 2026)

In 2026, Michael Hill Trial Law filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against The Laurels of Heath, in Ohio, as reported in national press coverage. The allegations have not been adjudicated.^[11][12]

Federal Fines and Payment Denials

CMS penalty records (May 2026) show the Ciena / Laurel facilities collectively received 93 federal penalties over the most recent reporting window — 72 monetary fines and 21 payment denials — totaling approximately $2.9 million in fines across the chain.^[1][13] ProPublica calculates the chain's average total fines per home at $34,947, above the national average of $31,434.^[3] The largest individual fines on record include:

Source: CMS Penalties dataset, May 2026.^[13]

Federal False Claims Act Whistleblower Complaint

A whistleblower (qui tam) complaint brought under the federal False Claims Act, captioned United States ex rel. Hubbard v. Ciena Healthcare Management, Inc., is published in the U.S. Department of Justice's Elder Justice Initiative document library. As with any complaint, the filing reflects allegations only; readers can review the document and verify its disposition through court records. It is not a finding of liability.^[9]

Medicare and Medicaid Matters Involving Ciena / Laurel

Ciena / Laurel facilities participate in Medicare and Medicaid, and the chain's leadership has publicly described its heavy reliance on those programs and on managed-care plans.^[7] The principal publicly documented federal program matter identified for this chain is the False Claims Act qui tam complaint in United States ex rel. Hubbard v. Ciena Healthcare Management, Inc., hosted in the DOJ Elder Justice Initiative library.^[9]

It is important to be precise about what has and has not been established. The public records reviewed for this page did not establish a finalized, chain-wide federal Medicare or Medicaid fraud settlement specifically against Ciena Healthcare or Laurel Health Care Company. The Hubbard matter reflects allegations in a complaint. No court has found Ciena or Laurel liable for Medicare or Medicaid fraud as of the date this page was prepared. We continue to monitor federal and state enforcement dockets and will update this page as verified records become available.

How Michael Hill Trial Law Investigates Claims Against Ciena / Laurel

Michael Hill Trial Law focuses exclusively on nursing home abuse and neglect. The firm has handled more than 1,000 cases against nursing home operators and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients, including a $26 million verdict in Ohio. The firm has also tried and won against this specific chain, securing a $5 million verdict against The Laurels of Mt. Vernon and Laurel Health Care Company, and it currently has pending litigation against Laurels facilities.^[10][15]

Financial pressure on a large, fast-growing chain can affect care at the bedside. When staffing is thin, when administrators are stretched across multiple buildings, or when a facility carries a history of serious deficiencies, residents can suffer preventable harm. The kinds of injuries our firm investigates include:

• Bedsores and pressure injuries
• Falls and fractures
• Malnutrition and dehydration
• Infections and sepsis
• Medication errors
• Elopement (wandering away from a facility)
• Physical or sexual assault
• Wrongful death

We are investigating claims against facilities operated by Ciena Healthcare and the Laurel Health Care Company. If your loved one was injured or died in a Ciena or Laurels nursing home, the public record on this page may be relevant to your situation. Our firm serves families nationwide, including throughout the Western United States.

Sources

1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Provider Data Catalog, Nursing Home "Provider Information" and "Penalties" datasets (NH_ProviderInfo_May2026.csv; NH_Penalties_May2026.csv), filtered to Ciena Healthcare/Laurel Health Care, chain ID 144. https://data.cms.gov/provider-data/
2. Medicare Care Compare, Ciena Healthcare/Laurel Health Care chain detail (chain 144). https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/details/chains/144
3. ProPublica Nursing Home Inspect, "All nursing homes affiliated with Ciena Healthcare/Laurel Health Care," CMS data as of May 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nursing-homes/affiliate/a-144
4. Ciena Healthcare, corporate website and locations directory. https://www.cienahealthcare.com/ ; https://www.cienahealthcare.com/locations/
5. DBusiness Magazine, "Best Practices" (Ciena founded 1998 by Mohammad Qazi, a licensed physical therapist; Southfield, Michigan; largest privately owned SNF operator in Michigan). https://www.dbusiness.com/business-features/best-practices/
6. McKnight's Long-Term Care News, "As new Ciena CEO, ProMedica vet Parker aims to strengthen staff engagement, prepare for sector's next 'storm'" (Dec. 2024; 83-facility chain; David Parker named CEO; growth plans). https://www.mcknights.com/news/in-new-ciena-role-promedica-vet-parker-aims-to-strengthen-staff-engagement-prepare-for-sectors-next-storm/
7. Skilled Nursing News, "Ciena Healthcare CEO: Despite 'Good PR,' Rise of Managed Care is Harming Nursing Home Sector" (Jun. 2023; Southfield, MI headquarters; service lines; reliance on Medicare/Medicaid/managed care). https://skillednursingnews.com/2023/06/ciena-healthcare-ceo-despite-good-pr-rise-of-managed-care-is-harming-nursing-home-sector/
8. Published profile of the Ciena Group's founder and leadership reporting chain scale (72+ facilities, 8,000+ beds, 10,000+ employees, combined revenues reported in excess of $700 million). https://apcl.com.pk/profile.php (reported figures; not independently audited)
9. United States ex rel. Hubbard v. Ciena Healthcare Management, Inc. — complaint published in the U.S. Department of Justice Elder Justice Initiative document library. https://www.justice.gov/d9/elderjustice/legacy/2015/07/12/United_States_ex_rel_Hubbard_v_Ciena_Healthcare_Management_Inc.pdf
10. Michael Hill Trial Law, "Family Files Lawsuit Against The Laurels of Walden Park for the Wrongful Death of Their Mother" (describes the Walden Park complaint, the $5M Mt. Vernon verdict, Laurel Health Care Company's Westerville, OH headquarters, and the 83-facility list). https://protectseniors.com/articles/family-files-lawsuit-against-the-laurels-of-walden-park-for-the-wrongful-death-of-their-mother
11. National Law Review, "Michael Hill Trial Law Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Laurels of Heath" (2026). https://natlawreview.com/press-releases/michael-hill-trial-law-files-wrongful-death-lawsuit-against-laurels-heath
12. Business Wire / Morningstar, "Michael Hill Trial Law Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Laurels of Heath" (Mar. 31, 2026). https://www.morningstar.com/news/business-wire/20260331126857/michael-hill-trial-law-files-wrongful-death-lawsuit-against-laurels-of-heath
13. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Nursing Home "Penalties" dataset (May 2026), fines and payment denials by facility. https://data.cms.gov/provider-data/
14. Laurel Healthcare / Ciena Healthcare brand-integration statement (company materials describing Laurel's integration into the Ciena brand and roughly 30-year care heritage). https://www.linkedin.com/company/laurel-healthcare
15. Michael Hill Trial Law. https://protectseniors.com/