facebook tracking Southern Hills Specialty Care, Osceola IA: CMS Ratings
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Southern Hills Specialty Care

All states › Iowa › Osceola › Southern Hills Specialty Care

444 North West View Drive Osceola, IA 50213 · Clarke County

(641) 342-6061

Accepts Medicare Accepts Medicaid 90 certified beds Non profit

CMS certification number 165293 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare

Ratings come from CMS and are updated monthly; these are from October 2026. Check the latest inspection report and visit in person before you decide.

Is Southern Hills Specialty Care 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 Southern Hills Specialty Care as of October 2026.

CMS rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall, about the same as the Iowa average of 3.1. Inspectors issued 8 citations in the last three years. CMS imposed 1 penalty, including $36,865 in fines, in that time. For short-term rehab patients CMS rates quality 2 out of 5; for long-term residents, 4 out of 5. Those results differ a lot, so ask about the unit your family member would be on.

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.

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Staffing

Nursing staff spend about 3.34 hours per resident per day at Southern Hills Specialty Care, below the Iowa median of 3.76 (US median: 3.72). About 0.55 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 2.86 hours, 14% below its all-week average. 41.6% of nursing staff left within a year (Iowa median 41.7%).

Nursing care per resident per day 3.34 hours
Below the Iowa median of 3.76 Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and aides combined, from payroll records.
Registered nurse hours 0.55 per resident a day RNs handle assessments, medications and changes in condition.
Weekend nursing care 2.86 hours Per resident a day. A big drop from weekdays can mean thin weekend staffing.
Nursing staff turnover 41.6% a year Share of nursing staff who left over a year. Lower usually means steadier care.
Registered nurse turnover 52.6% a year Share of registered nurses who left over a year.
Administrators who left 0 in the past year Frequent leadership changes are worth asking about on a visit.

About this nursing home

Certified beds90
Residents per day 85 About 94% of beds filled, on average
OwnershipNon profit - Corporation
Payment acceptedMedicare and Medicaid
Certified sinceAugust 1996
Part of a chainCare Initiatives
Legal business nameCARE INITIATIVES

Paying for care at Southern Hills Specialty Care: Medicare and Medicaid

Southern Hills Specialty Care 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 August 21, 2025 and found 4 deficiencies, plus 1 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 8 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 8 citations at Southern Hills Specialty Care across 4 inspection dates, 3 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 7 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 1 was minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation (2) and nutrition and dietary (2). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities" (tag F0865, level F, August 21, 2025). 2 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.

August 21, 2025 · 5 citations · includes complaint inspection

FHave a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Administration Deficiencies · Tag F0865 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 25, 2025)

EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0812 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 25, 2025)

DProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · Tag F0600 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 25, 2025)

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

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0689 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 25, 2025)

DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0880 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 25, 2025)

April 10, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection

CMake sure there is a pest control program to prevent/deal with mice, insects, or other pests.

Potential for minimal harm · Environmental Deficiencies · Tag F0925 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 11, 2025)

September 12, 2024 · 1 citation

EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0812 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 27, 2024)

December 12, 2023 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection

DRespond appropriately to all alleged violations.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · Tag F0610 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Dec 30, 2023)

Questions to ask on a tour of Southern Hills Specialty Care

  1. CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on August 21, 2025. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
  2. CMS rates short-stay quality 2 out of 5. How often do rehab patients go back to the hospital, and how many therapy sessions a week are typical?
  3. Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
  4. 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

1 penalty in the last three years, including $36,865 in fines.

DateTypeAmount or length
Aug 18, 2024 Fine $36,865

Rating history

CMS monthOverallInspectionStaffingQuality
October 2026 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/5
August 2026 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/5
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Location

Hospitals near Southern Hills Specialty Care

The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.

  • 0.8 mi
    Clarke County Hospital Osceola
    Emergency room ★★★★★ Medicare overall 5 of 5
    Median ER visit 1h 44m for patients treated and sent home
  • 19.8 mi
    Decatur County Hospital Leon
    Emergency room
    Median ER visit 1h 37m for patients treated and sent home
  • 24.1 mi
    Madison County Memorial Hospital Winterset
    Emergency room
    Median ER visit 1h 55m 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

Westview Acres Care Center Leon · 20.5 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 4/5 46 beds · Medicaid
Chariton Specialty Care Chariton · 24.0 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 4/5 60 beds · Medicaid
Westview of Indianola Care Center Indianola · 24.0 mi away ★★★★★ Inspection 5/5 · Staffing 4/5 71 beds · Medicaid
Good Samaritan - Indianola Indianola · 24.4 mi away ★☆☆☆☆ Inspection 1/5 · Staffing 3/5 105 beds · Medicaid
Azria Health Winterset Winterset · 24.4 mi away ★☆☆☆☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 1/5 65 beds · Medicaid

More nursing homes near Southern Hills Specialty Care ›   All nursing homes in Osceola ›

Compare Southern Hills Specialty Care with the 3 closest homes side by side ›

Other Care Initiatives nursing homes in Iowa

Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 43 Care Initiatives 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.

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https://www.nursinghomesineachstate.com/iowa/osceola/southern-hills-specialty-care/ · Data: CMS, October 2026 · Nursing Homes In Each State, not affiliated with CMS or Medicare.