Saunders Medical Center
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Saunders Medical Center in Wahoo, Nebraska, has received an excellent Trust Grade of A, indicating it is highly recommended and performs well compared to other facilities. It ranks #30 out of 177 in the state and #1 of 3 in Saunders County, placing it in the top half of Nebraska nursing homes. The facility is improving, with issues decreasing from two in 2023 to one in 2024. Staffing is a mixed bag; while the turnover rate is 33%, which is good compared to Nebraska's average of 49%, the facility has only 1 out of 5 stars for staffing, indicating significant challenges in this area. Notably, there have been no fines, but the facility has less RN coverage than 84% of others in the state, which is a concern as RNs play a crucial role in resident care. Specific incidents noted during inspections include failures to properly store oxygen equipment for a resident, which could lead to contamination, and a lack of proper notification regarding bed hold policies for a hospitalized resident. Additionally, there were lapses in following medication administration protocols for two residents, raising potential safety concerns. Overall, while Saunders Medical Center excels in many areas, families should weigh these strengths against the concerns related to staffing and specific care practices.
- Trust Score
- A
- In Nebraska
- #30/177
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 33% turnover. Near Nebraska's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Nebraska facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ○ Average
- Each resident gets 33 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — about average for Nebraska. RNs are the most trained staff who monitor for health changes.
- Violations ○ Average
- 6 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
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5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (33%)
15 points below Nebraska average of 48%
Facility shows strength in quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
13pts below Nebraska avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
The Ugly 6 deficiencies on record
Oct 2024
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
License Reference number 175 NAC 12-006.17
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to store Resident 29's nasal canula and oxygen tubing in a bag that would prevent cro...
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Nov 2023
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0625
(Tag F0625)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to provide a written notice of bed hold upon transfer to the hospital ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Quality of Care
(Tag F0684)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Licensure Reference Number 175 NAC 12-006.09D
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to follow the provider's...
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Oct 2022
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Notification of Changes
(Tag F0580)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
LICENSURE REFERENCE NUMBER 175 NAC 12-006.04C3a(6)
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to notify the resident's representative of a significant weight loss for Resident 9. The sa...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Assessment Accuracy
(Tag F0641)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY**
Licensure Reference Number 174 NAC 12-006.09B
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to code the MDS (Minimu...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0740
(Tag F0740)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure behavior monitoring was completed to support the use of psychotropic medication for Resident 9. The sample size was 1. The facility ...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • Grade A (90/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Nebraska.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Nebraska facilities.
- • 33% turnover. Below Nebraska's 48% average. Good staff retention means consistent care.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Saunders Medical Center's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Saunders Medical Center an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Nebraska, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.
How is Saunders Medical Center Staffed?
CMS rates Saunders Medical Center's staffing level at 1 out of 5 stars, which is much below average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 33%, compared to the Nebraska average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Saunders Medical Center?
State health inspectors documented 6 deficiencies at Saunders Medical Center during 2022 to 2024. These included: 6 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Saunders Medical Center?
Saunders Medical Center is owned by a government entity. Government-operated facilities are typically run by state, county, or municipal agencies. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 60 certified beds and approximately 55 residents (about 92% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Wahoo, Nebraska.
How Does Saunders Medical Center Compare to Other Nebraska Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Nebraska, Saunders Medical Center's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 2.9, staff turnover (33%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Saunders Medical Center?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can you walk me through typical staffing levels on day, evening, and night shifts?" "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?" These questions are particularly relevant given the below-average staffing rating.
Is Saunders Medical Center Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Saunders Medical Center has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 5-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Nebraska. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Saunders Medical Center Stick Around?
Saunders Medical Center has a staff turnover rate of 33%, which is about average for Nebraska nursing homes (state average: 46%). Moderate turnover is common in nursing homes, but families should still ask about staff tenure and how the facility maintains care continuity when employees leave.
Was Saunders Medical Center Ever Fined?
Saunders Medical Center has no federal fines on record. CMS issues fines when nursing homes fail to meet care standards or don't correct problems found during inspections. The absence of fines suggests the facility has either maintained compliance or corrected any issues before penalties were assessed. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review recent inspection reports for the full picture.
Is Saunders Medical Center on Any Federal Watch List?
Saunders Medical Center is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.