All states › California › Ridgecrest › Ridgecrest Regional Transitional Care and Rehabilitation
1081 North China Lake Boulevard Ridgecrest, CA 93555 · Kern County
CMS certification number 555877 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Ridgecrest Regional Transitional Care and Rehabilitation a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record
There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for Ridgecrest Regional Transitional Care and Rehabilitation as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 2 out of 5 stars overall, below the California average of 3.2.
Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.
Staffing
Nursing staff spend about 4.69 hours per resident per day at Ridgecrest Regional Transitional Care and Rehabilitation, above the California median of 4.27 (US median: 3.72). About 0.69 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.72 hours, 21% below its all-week average. Ask how weekends are staffed. 44% of nursing staff left within a year (California median 36%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Ridgecrest Regional Transitional Care and Rehabilitation: Medicare and Medicaid
Ridgecrest Regional Transitional Care and Rehabilitation is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet California's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.
In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.
This home is located in a hospital.
Health inspections
The most recent standard inspection was on February 26, 2026 and found 5 deficiencies, plus 6 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 48 citations in the last three years.
Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.
What the inspections found
Over the last three years, inspectors issued 48 citations at Ridgecrest Regional Transitional Care and Rehabilitation across 15 inspection dates, 22 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on April 8, 2024. The most common areas cited were resident rights (12) and resident assessment and care planning (10). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody" (tag F0600, level G, April 8, 2024). 4 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
August 18, 2026 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
DMake sure that a working call system is available in each resident's bathroom and bathing area.
July 15, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
May 19, 2026 · 3 citations · includes complaint inspection
FKeep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DEnsure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
February 26, 2026 · 5 citations
FProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DProvide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.
DCoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
March 6, 2025 · 16 citations
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
FKeep all essential equipment working safely.
EReasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
EHonor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
EProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
ESet up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
EInclude as part of its infection prevention and control program, mandatory training that includes written standards, policies, and procedures for the program.
DHonor 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.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DProvide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
DEnsure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
DEnsure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident.
DDesignate a qualified infection preventionist to be responsible for the infection prevent and control program in the nursing home.
January 29, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
December 18, 2024 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DHonor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
October 15, 2024 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DReasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
May 14, 2024 · 3 citations · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure residents have reasonable access to and privacy in their use of communication methods.
DHonor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
DAdminister the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
May 1, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
April 29, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
April 8, 2024 · 1 citation, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
March 14, 2024 · 5 citations
FSet up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
ENot require residents to give up Medicare or Medicaid benefits, or pay privately as a condition of admission; and must tell residents what care they do not provide.
DHonor 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.
DEnsure residents do not lose the ability to perform activities of daily living unless there is a medical reason.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
November 17, 2023 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
October 9, 2023 · 3 citations · includes complaint inspection
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Questions to ask on a tour of Ridgecrest Regional Transitional Care and Rehabilitation
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on April 8, 2024 under the rule on freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on August 18, 2026. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- Weekend staffing is 21% below the all-week average. Who is on duty on Saturday nights?
- Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
- When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?
Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.
Fines and payment denials
2 penalties in the last three years, including $27,716 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 14, 2024 | Fine | $27,716 |
| Mar 14, 2024 | Payment Denial | 13 days of payments denied |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| August 2026 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Ridgecrest Regional Transitional Care and Rehabilitation
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
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0.1 mi
Ridgecrest Regional Hospital RidgecrestEmergency roomMedian ER visit 3h 15m for patients treated and sent home
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
More nursing homes near Ridgecrest Regional Transitional Care and Rehabilitation › All nursing homes in Ridgecrest ›
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.