Desert Springs Health Care LLC
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Desert Springs Health Care LLC in Hobbs, New Mexico has a Trust Grade of B, indicating it is a good choice among nursing homes, though there is room for improvement. It ranks #4 out of 67 facilities statewide, placing it in the top half, and is the best option among the three nursing homes in Lea County. Unfortunately, the facility is experiencing a worsening trend, with reported issues increasing from 1 in 2023 to 22 in 2024. Staffing is a concern, rated at only 2 out of 5 stars, with a turnover rate of 57%, which is average for the state. While there have been no fines reported, which is a positive sign, the RN coverage is below average, as it is less than that of 79% of New Mexico facilities. Recent inspector findings raised serious concerns, including a resident sustaining injuries from a fall due to improperly locked beds and staff unfamiliarity with equipment. Additionally, there were issues related to food safety, such as unlabeled food items in the kitchen, and unsafe hot water temperatures that posed a burn risk to residents. Overall, while there are strengths such as a strong health inspection rating, these incidents highlight significant weaknesses that families should consider.
- Trust Score
- B
- In New Mexico
- #4/67
- Safety Record
- Moderate
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 57% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most New Mexico facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ⚠ Watch
- Each resident gets only 22 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — below average for New Mexico. Fewer RN minutes means fewer trained eyes watching for problems.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 39 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
4-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
11pts above New Mexico avg (46%)
Frequent staff changes - ask about care continuity
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
9 points above New Mexico average of 48%
The Ugly 39 deficiencies on record
Nov 2024
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0700
(Tag F0700)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on record reviews and interview, the facility failed to ensure staff assessed residents who utilized bed rails for 5 (R #21, R #25, R #27, R #31, and R #39) residents review for risk of entrapme...
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MINOR
(C)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Staffing Information
(Tag F0732)
Minor procedural issue · This affected most or all residents
Based on observation and interview, the facility failed to post nurse staffing data on a daily basis that included the following:
a. Facility name.
b. The current date.
c. The total number and the ...
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May 2024
1 deficiency
1 Harm
SERIOUS
(G)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Actual Harm - a resident was hurt due to facility failures
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
A resident was harmed · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Past Noncompliance: Compliance Date was 04/06/24.
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to prevent an accide...
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Jan 2024
19 deficiencies
CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0568
(Tag F0568)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to provide quarterly statements for resident's personal funds entruste...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Transfer Notice
(Tag F0623)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure residents, resident representatives, and Ombudsman received ...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0625
(Tag F0625)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to provide a written notice to the resident or resident representative...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Assessment Accuracy
(Tag F0641)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure the MDS accurately reflected the resident's status at the ti...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Comprehensive Care Plan
(Tag F0656)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to develop and implement a comprehensive person-centered care plan for...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0657
(Tag F0657)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to revise the care plan for 2 (R #23 and R #37) of 4 (R #23, R #37, R #48, and R #63) residents reviewed for care plans. This deficient practi...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0679
(Tag F0679)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to provide an ongoing activity program to support residents in their c...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0685
(Tag F0685)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure residents received proper treatment to maintain vision and h...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation and interview, the facility failed to keep residents free from the potential for accidents for 1 (R #32) of 1 (R #32) residents reviewed for accidents, when they failed to ensure ...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0698
(Tag F0698)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure ongoing communication and collaboration with the dialysis (clinical purification of blood as a substitute for the normal function of...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0726
(Tag F0726)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure staff demonstrated competency, were tested, or evaluated in skills and techniques necessary to care for residents' needs for 6 (CNA ...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Drug Regimen Review
(Tag F0756)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure the consultant pharmacist's recommendations were reviewed and acted on for 3 (R #11 and R #23, R #30) of 5 (R #11, R #23, R #30, R #...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Medication Errors
(Tag F0758)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure residents did not receive psychotropic medications unless the medication was necessary to treat a specific psychiatric diagnosis and...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation and interview, the facility failed to properly store medications, when they failed to ensure medications were not expired in the Pyxis (medication management software and medicati...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Laboratory Services
(Tag F0770)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to obtain laboratory testing for 1 (R #23) of 1 (R #23) residents reviewed for laboratory services. If the facility fails to obtain labs that ...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Dental Services
(Tag F0791)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, record review, and interview, the facility failed to ensure residents obtained routine dental care to include an annual inspection of the mouth for signs of disease, dental clean...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0883
(Tag F0883)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure the medical records contained documentation each resident received or was offered pneumococcal (a bacteria that causes pneumonia inf...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0887
(Tag F0887)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure the residents' medical record contained documentation each resident received or was offered covid-19 (an acute respiratory infection...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observation and interview, the facility failed to label food in accordance with professional standards of food service safety. This failure had the potential to affect all 74 residents in the...
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Aug 2023
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Free from Abuse/Neglect
(Tag F0600)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on record review and interviews, the facility failed to ensure residents were free from neglect for 3 (R #1, R #3 and R #4) of 4 (R #1, R #2, R #3 and R #4) residents reviewed for neglect relate...
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Nov 2022
16 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0578
(Tag F0578)
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 ensure that 2 (R #'s 23 and 26) of 2 (R #23 and 26) resident's New ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Grievances
(Tag F0585)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure that grievances received by residents are responded to promptly for 1 (R #329) of 1 (R #329) residents reviewed for grievance resolu...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0658
(Tag F0658)
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 ensure 1 (R #59) of 1 (R #59) residents had physician orders for ea...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0745
(Tag F0745)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure that medically-related social services were provided for 1 (R #59) resident that was reviewed for medication concerns/grievances. Th...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Drug Regimen Review
(Tag F0756)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to properly act on pharmacist recommendations. This deficient practice is likely to cause residents to receive unnecessary medications or dosa...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0804
(Tag F0804)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation and interview the facility failed to provide food at the appropriate temperatures 140 degrees Fehrenheit) for all residents that were served the regular consistency Tuna Casserole...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0806
(Tag F0806)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, record review, and interview, the facility failed to provide food that accommodates residents preferences for 2 (R #62 and R #68) of 2 (R #62 and R #68) resident's reviewed for f...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0919
(Tag F0919)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation and interview, the facility failed to ensure that there was a functioning call light system that allowed resident to call for assistance for 1 (R #29) of 5 (R # 20, 29, 34, 47 and...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0730
(Tag F0730)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to complete an annual performance review of 3 Certified Nurse Aides (CNA) (CNA #2, #4 and #5) of 3 CNA's randomly reviewed. This deficient pra...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation and interview, the facility failed to
1. Ensure that medications and other medical supplies (opened bottle ...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0947
(Tag F0947)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure Certified Nurse Aides (CNA's) received the required in-service training of no less than 12 hours per year for 3 (CNA #2, CNA #4, and...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure that the facility was free from accident hazard...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0728
(Tag F0728)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on interviews, the facility failed to provide documentation confirming that nine (9) Nurse Aides employed by the facility were enrolled in or had completed a NATCEP (Nurse Aide Training and Comp...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Staffing Information
(Tag F0732)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observation, record review, and interview, the facility failed to maintain the posted Daily Nurse Staffing data (schedule) for a minimum of 18 months. This deficient practice is likely to pre...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation and interview, the facility failed to store and serve food under sanitary conditions by not:
1. Ensuring fo...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Administration
(Tag F0835)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on record review and interview, the facility administration failed to ensure that facility resources were effectively used to:
1. Investigate and resolve each grievance filed by the residents an...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Why is there high staff turnover? How do you retain staff?"
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most New Mexico facilities.
- • 39 deficiencies on record, including 1 serious (caused harm) violation. Ask about corrective actions taken.
- • 57% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
About This Facility
What is Desert Springs Health Care Llc's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Desert Springs Health Care LLC an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within New Mexico, 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 Desert Springs Health Care Llc Staffed?
CMS rates Desert Springs Health Care LLC's staffing level at 2 out of 5 stars, which is below average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 57%, which is 11 percentage points above the New Mexico average of 46%. High turnover can affect care consistency as new staff learn residents' individual needs.
What Have Inspectors Found at Desert Springs Health Care Llc?
State health inspectors documented 39 deficiencies at Desert Springs Health Care LLC during 2022 to 2024. These included: 1 that caused actual resident harm, 37 with potential for harm, and 1 minor or isolated issues. Deficiencies causing actual harm indicate documented cases where residents experienced negative health consequences.
Who Owns and Operates Desert Springs Health Care Llc?
Desert Springs Health Care LLC is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility is operated by OPCO SKILLED MANAGEMENT, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 80 certified beds and approximately 78 residents (about 98% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Hobbs, New Mexico.
How Does Desert Springs Health Care Llc Compare to Other New Mexico Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in New Mexico, Desert Springs Health Care LLC's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 2.9, staff turnover (57%) is significantly higher than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Desert Springs Health Care Llc?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "How do you ensure continuity of care given staff turnover, and what is your staff retention strategy?" "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?" These questions are particularly relevant given the facility's high staff turnover rate and the below-average staffing rating.
Is Desert Springs Health Care Llc Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Desert Springs Health Care LLC 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 New Mexico. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Desert Springs Health Care Llc Stick Around?
Staff turnover at Desert Springs Health Care LLC is high. At 57%, the facility is 11 percentage points above the New Mexico average of 46%. High turnover means new staff may not know residents' individual needs, medications, or preferences. It can also be disorienting for residents, especially those with dementia who rely on familiar faces. Families should ask: What is causing the turnover? What retention programs are in place? How do you ensure care continuity during staff transitions?
Was Desert Springs Health Care Llc Ever Fined?
Desert Springs Health Care LLC 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 Desert Springs Health Care Llc on Any Federal Watch List?
Desert Springs Health Care LLC 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.