All states › Nebraska › Columbus › Emerald Nursing & Rehab Columbus
2855 40th Avenue Columbus, NE 68601 · Platte County
All 2 nursing homes in Columbus, NE (2 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 285092 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Emerald Nursing & Rehab Columbus 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 Emerald Nursing & Rehab Columbus as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall, about the same as the Nebraska average of 2.9.
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 3.84 hours per resident per day at Emerald Nursing & Rehab Columbus, below the Nebraska median of 3.99 (US median: 3.72). About 0.37 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.26 hours, 15% below its all-week average. Ask how weekends are staffed. 58.9% of nursing staff left within a year (Nebraska median 47.6%). 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 Emerald Nursing & Rehab Columbus: Medicare and Medicaid
Emerald Nursing & Rehab Columbus 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 Nebraska'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 2 deficiencies, plus 4 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 22 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 22 citations at Emerald Nursing & Rehab Columbus across 8 inspection dates, 12 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 21 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 1 was minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (6) and infection control (4). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide and implement an infection prevention and control program" (tag F0880, level F, July 18, 2024). 2 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
May 28, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DMake sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
April 29, 2026 · 3 citations · includes complaint inspection
EProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
CPost nurse staffing information every day.
August 21, 2025 · 2 citations
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.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
August 14, 2024 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
July 18, 2024 · 8 citations · includes complaint inspection
FProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
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.
EEmploy sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DEnsure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
DEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
DEnsure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
May 1, 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.
October 4, 2023 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
August 17, 2023 · 3 citations
DProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Questions to ask on a tour of Emerald Nursing & Rehab Columbus
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on August 17, 2023. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- CMS rates staffing 2 out of 5. How many residents does each nurse aide care for on day, evening and night shifts?
- Weekend staffing is 15% below the all-week average. Who is on duty on Saturday nights?
- Nursing staff turnover was 58.9% a year. How many of the staff come from agencies?
- CMS rates short-stay quality 1 out of 5. How often do rehab patients go back to the hospital, and how many therapy sessions a week are typical?
- The home averages about 48% of its beds filled. Are any units closed?
- 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.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 2025 | Payment Denial | 21 days of payments denied |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| August 2026 | 1/5 | 3/5 | 1/5 | 1/5 |
Add this rating badge to your websiteFree. Shows Emerald Nursing & Rehab Columbus's Medicare star rating and updates itself.
Size and colour
Preview
Paste it where the badge should appear: in WordPress, a Custom HTML block or a footer widget; on other sites, any spot that accepts HTML. The badge updates itself when CMS publishes new ratings.
Location
Hospitals near Emerald Nursing & Rehab Columbus
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
Columbus Community Hospital ColumbusEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 2h 1m for patients treated and sent home
-
16.4 mi
CHI Health Schuyler SchuylerEmergency roomMedian ER visit 1h 44m for patients treated and sent home
-
18.4 mi
Genoa Community Hospital GenoaEmergency roomMedian ER visit 1h 20m 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 Emerald Nursing & Rehab Columbus › All nursing homes in Columbus ›
Compare Emerald Nursing & Rehab Columbus with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Brookestone Acres · Columbus · 5 stars · 0.7 mi
Other Emerald Healthcare nursing homes in Nebraska
- Emerald Nursing & Rehab Lakeview · Grand Island · 1 stars
- Emerald Nursing & Rehab Cozad · Cozad · 1 stars
- Emerald Nursing & Rehab Legacy Pointe · Omaha · 1 stars
- Emerald Nursing & Rehabilitation Mercy · Omaha · 1 stars
- Emerald Nursing & Rehab Omaha · Omaha · 1 stars
- Emerald Nursing & Rehab Brookside · Lincoln · 1 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 14 Emerald Healthcare 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.