All states › Iowa › Des Moines › Rehabilitation Center of Des Moines
701 Riverview Des Moines, IA 50316 · Polk County
All 12 nursing homes in Des Moines, IA (12 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 165268 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Rehabilitation Center of Des Moines 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 Rehabilitation Center of Des Moines as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall, about the same as the Iowa average of 3.1.
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 3.86 hours per resident per day at Rehabilitation Center of Des Moines, about the same as the Iowa median of 3.76 (US median: 3.72). About 0.62 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.36 hours, 13% below its all-week average. 40.6% of nursing staff left within a year (Iowa median 41.7%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Rehabilitation Center of Des Moines: Medicare and Medicaid
Rehabilitation Center of Des Moines 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 Iowa'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.
Health inspections
The most recent standard inspection was on September 16, 2025 and found 7 deficiencies, plus 4 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 38 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 38 citations at Rehabilitation Center of Des Moines across 7 inspection dates, 21 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on June 6, 2024. The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (11) and resident assessment and care planning (8). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents" (tag F0689, level G, June 6, 2024). 3 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
August 27, 2026 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DProvide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
June 3, 2026 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
DEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
September 16, 2025 · 7 citations
EEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
EDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
EEducate residents and staff on COVID-19 vaccination, offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents and staff after education, and properly document each resident and staff member's vaccination status.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
May 7, 2025 · 3 citations · includes complaint inspection
DHonor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions.
DHonor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
October 17, 2024 · 6 citations · includes complaint inspection
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
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.
DAssist a resident in gaining access to vision and hearing services.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
June 6, 2024 · 5 citations, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DHonor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
DRespond appropriately to all alleged violations.
October 5, 2023 · 13 citations · includes complaint inspection
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
DCoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DEnsure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube.
DProvide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
DProvide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
DMake sure that a working call system is available in each resident's bathroom and bathing area.
BProvide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.
Questions to ask on a tour of Rehabilitation Center of Des Moines
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on June 6, 2024 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on June 6, 2024. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- 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
CMS reports no fines or payment denials for this home in the last three years.
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| August 2026 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 5/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Rehabilitation Center of Des Moines
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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0.8 mi
Mercy Medical Center-Des Moines Des MoinesEmergency room ★☆☆☆☆ Medicare overall 1 of 5Median ER visit 4h 4m for patients treated and sent home
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1.6 mi
Iowa Methodist Medical Center Des MoinesEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 3h 2m for patients treated and sent home
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1.9 mi
Broadlawns Medical Center Des MoinesEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 3h 24m 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 Rehabilitation Center of Des Moines › All nursing homes in Des Moines ›
Compare Rehabilitation Center of Des Moines with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Scottish Rite Park · Des Moines · 5 stars · 2.7 mi
- Childserve Habilitation Center · Johnston · 5 stars · 6.1 mi
- Karen Acres Care Center · Urbandale · 5 stars · 6.1 mi
- Prairie Vista Village · Altoona · 5 stars · 7.8 mi
Other The Ensign Group nursing homes in Iowa
- West Bend Health and Rehabilitation · West Bend · 5 stars
- Woodland Health and Rehabilitation · Mount Pleasant · 4 stars
- Crystal Heights Care Center · Oskaloosa · 3 stars
- Careage Hills Rehabilitation and Healthcare · Cherokee · 2 stars
- Hillcrest Health Care Center · Hawarden · 1 stars
- Greater Southside Health and Rehabilitation · Des Moines · 1 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 347 The Ensign Group nursing homes ›
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.