All states › Iowa › Ottumwa › Good Samaritan - Ottumwa
2035 Chester Avenue Ottumwa, IA 52501 · Wapello County
All 3 nursing homes in Ottumwa, IA (3 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 165211 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Good Samaritan - Ottumwa 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 Good Samaritan - Ottumwa as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 2 out of 5 stars overall, below 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 3.66 hours per resident per day at Good Samaritan - Ottumwa, about the same as the Iowa median of 3.76 (US median: 3.72). About 0.87 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.30 hours, 10% below its all-week average. 33% of nursing staff left within a year (Iowa median 41.7%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Good Samaritan - Ottumwa: Medicare and Medicaid
Good Samaritan - Ottumwa 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 December 4, 2025 and found 3 deficiencies, plus 12 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 45 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 45 citations at Good Samaritan - Ottumwa across 7 inspection dates, 22 of them from complaint investigations. 3 were at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on October 10, 2024. The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (14) and resident rights (12). 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, October 10, 2024). 2 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
August 5, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProvide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.
June 3, 2026 · 11 citations · includes complaint inspection
EEnsure 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.
EEnsure each resident receives and the facility provides drinks consistent with resident needs and preferences and sufficient to maintain resident hydration.
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.
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
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.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
DEnsure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
December 4, 2025 · 3 citations
DReasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
DProvide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
September 3, 2025 · 3 citations · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
October 10, 2024 · 7 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 a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
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.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
May 22, 2024 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
August 24, 2023 · 18 citations, includes actual harm
GProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
GEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
EHonor 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.
EProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
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.
DThe resident has the right to receive notices in a format and a language he or she understands.
DGive residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
DKeep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
DRespond appropriately to all alleged violations.
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 services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
DEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
Questions to ask on a tour of Good Samaritan - Ottumwa
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on October 10, 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 August 24, 2023. 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
1 penalty in the last three years, including $35,968 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2024 | Fine | $35,968 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| August 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Good Samaritan - Ottumwa
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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4.0 mi
Ottumwa Regional Health Center OttumwaEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 2h 46m for patients treated and sent home
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17.1 mi
Davis County Hospital BloomfieldEmergency roomMedian ER visit 1h 36m for patients treated and sent home
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17.9 mi
Monroe County Hospital AlbiaEmergency roomMedian ER visit 2h 3m 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 Good Samaritan - Ottumwa › All nursing homes in Ottumwa ›
Compare Good Samaritan - Ottumwa with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Accura Healthcare of Ottumwa · Ottumwa · 5 stars · 2.3 mi
- Ridgewood Specialty Care · Ottumwa · 3 stars · 0.3 mi
Other Good Samaritan Society nursing homes in Iowa
- Good Samaritan - Saint Ansgar · Saint Ansgar · 5 stars
- Good Samaritan - Forest City · Forest City · 4 stars
- Good Samaritan - Manson · Manson · 4 stars
- Good Samaritan - Villisca · Villisca · 4 stars
- Good Samaritan - Lemars · Le Mars · 4 stars
- Good Samaritan - Davenport · Davenport · 3 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 92 Good Samaritan Society 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.