All states › Kansas › Colby › Colby Operator
105 East College Drive Colby, KS 67701 · Thomas County
All 2 nursing homes in Colby, KS (2 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 175202 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Colby Operator 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 Colby Operator as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 2 out of 5 stars overall, below the Kansas 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 4.01 hours per resident per day at Colby Operator, about the same as the Kansas median of 3.96 (US median: 3.72). About 0.49 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.58 hours, 11% below its all-week average. 70.5% of nursing staff left within a year (Kansas median 47.5%). High turnover can mean residents see unfamiliar caregivers; ask how long the nurses on the unit have worked there.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Colby Operator: Medicare and Medicaid
Colby Operator 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 Kansas'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 June 11, 2025 and found 4 deficiencies, plus 1 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 26 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 26 citations at Colby Operator across 4 inspection dates, 2 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the immediate-jeopardy level (J–L), CMS's most serious category, most recently on August 12, 2024 (complaint inspection). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (7) and pharmacy service (5). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing" (tag F0686, level J, August 12, 2024). 1 citation was under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
June 11, 2025 · 5 citations · includes complaint inspection
FVerify that a nurse aide has been trained; and if they haven't worked as a nurse aide for 2 years, receive retraining.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DEnsure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
August 12, 2024 · 1 citation, includes immediate jeopardy · includes complaint inspection
JProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
September 28, 2023 · 14 citations
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
FElectronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data.
FProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
FMake sure there is a pest control program to prevent/deal with mice, insects, or other pests.
EEnsure 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.
DProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
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 necessary information is communicated to the resident, and receiving health care provider at the time of a planned discharge.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DProvide care or services that was trauma informed and/or culturally competent.
DEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
CPost nurse staffing information every day.
May 12, 2022 · 6 citations
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
DProvide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
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.
Questions to ask on a tour of Colby Operator
- Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on August 12, 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 September 28, 2023. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- Nursing staff turnover was 70.5% a year. How many of the staff come from agencies?
- 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 $40,381 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 12, 2024 | Fine | $40,381 |
| Aug 12, 2024 | Payment Denial | 1 days of payments denied |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| August 2026 | 1/5 | 3/5 | 1/5 | 1/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Colby Operator
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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0.3 mi
Citizens Medical Center ColbyEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 2h 48m for patients treated and sent home
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20.1 mi
Logan County Hospital OakleyEmergency roomMedian ER visit 1h 51m 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 Colby Operator › All nursing homes in Colby ›
Compare Colby Operator with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Citizens Medical Center Ltcu · Colby · 5 stars · 0.2 mi
Other Mission Health Communities nursing homes in Kansas
- Wakefield Care and Rehab · Wakefield · 5 stars
- Downs Care and Rehab · Downs · 5 stars
- Wellington Health and Rehab · Wellington · 5 stars
- Onaga Operator · Onaga · 4 stars
- Arma Operator · Arma · 4 stars
- Smith Center Health and Rehab · Smith Center · 4 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 29 Mission Health Communities 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.