BELL AVENUE NURSING CENTER
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Bell Avenue Nursing Center in Elk City, Oklahoma, has a Trust Grade of B, indicating it is a good choice among nursing homes. It ranks #43 out of 282 facilities statewide, placing it in the top half, and #2 of 3 in Beckham County, meaning only one other local option is better. The facility's performance has been stable, with eight issues reported consistently over recent years. Staffing is a strength here, with a 4-star rating and a turnover rate of 28%, well below the state average, suggesting that staff are experienced and familiar with the residents. However, it has concerning fines totaling $31,008, which is higher than 80% of Oklahoma facilities, indicating potential compliance issues. Specific incidents from inspections raised some red flags, such as the facility failing to protect residents from abuse, as two residents were identified as victims of resident-to-resident abuse. Additionally, they did not complete timely assessments for new admissions, and there were inaccuracies in medication assessments for residents on anticoagulant therapy. Overall, while there are notable strengths in staffing and overall care, families should be aware of these serious concerns before making a decision.
- Trust Score
- B
- In Oklahoma
- #43/282
- Safety Record
- Moderate
- Inspections
- Holding Steady
- Staff Stability ✓ Good
- 28% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 20 points below Oklahoma's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- $31,008 in fines. Lower than most Oklahoma facilities. Relatively clean record.
- Skilled Nurses ⚠ Watch
- Each resident gets only 16 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — below average for Oklahoma. Fewer RN minutes means fewer trained eyes watching for problems.
- Violations ○ Average
- 8 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
4-Star Staffing Rating · Above-average nurse staffing levels
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Low Staff Turnover (28%) · Staff stability means consistent care
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
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No fines on record
-
Staff turnover is low (28%)
20 points below Oklahoma average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, staff retention, fire safety.
The Bad
Below median ($33,413)
Moderate penalties - review what triggered them
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 8 deficiencies on record
Mar 2025
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Pharmacy Services
(Tag F0755)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, record review, and interview, the facility failed to follow physician orders related to insulin administration for 1 (#205) of 3 sampled residents reviewed for insulin administra...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Comprehensive Assessments
(Tag F0636)
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 conduct a comprehensive assessment within 14 calendar days of admis...
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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
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure assessments were accurate for 2 (#37 and #46) of 2 sampled residents reviewed for anticoagulant therapy.
The administrator reported...
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Dec 2024
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(E)
📢 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
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
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 accurate wandering risk scale assessments were completed for...
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Aug 2024
2 deficiencies
1 Harm
SERIOUS
(H)
📢 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
Free from Abuse/Neglect
(Tag F0600)
A resident was harmed · This affected multiple residents
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to provide an environment free from abuse for two (#7 and #8) of five sampled residents reviewed for resident-to-resident abuse.
The Administr...
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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
Report Alleged Abuse
(Tag F0609)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure incident reports were created for documented incidents of inappropriate sexual behavior by one (#6) of five sampled residents review...
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Apr 2023
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(E)
📢 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
Pharmacy Services
(Tag F0755)
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 establish a system of records of receipt and disposition, of contro...
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Jan 2023
1 deficiency
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, observation, and interview, the facility failed to obtain an appropriate rationale for a pharmacy recommended gradual dose reduction (GDR) for one (#4) of five residents whose ...
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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
- • 28% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 20 points below Oklahoma's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- • 8 deficiencies on record, including 1 serious (caused harm) violation. Ask about corrective actions taken.
- • $31,008 in fines. Higher than 94% of Oklahoma facilities, suggesting repeated compliance issues.
About This Facility
What is Bell Avenue Nursing Center's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns BELL AVENUE NURSING CENTER an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which is considered above average nationally. Within Oklahoma, 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 Bell Avenue Nursing Center Staffed?
CMS rates BELL AVENUE NURSING CENTER's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 28%, compared to the Oklahoma average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Bell Avenue Nursing Center?
State health inspectors documented 8 deficiencies at BELL AVENUE NURSING CENTER during 2023 to 2025. These included: 1 that caused actual resident harm and 7 with potential for harm. Deficiencies causing actual harm indicate documented cases where residents experienced negative health consequences.
Who Owns and Operates Bell Avenue Nursing Center?
BELL AVENUE NURSING CENTER 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 RIVERS EDGE OPERATIONS, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 90 certified beds and approximately 52 residents (about 58% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in ELK CITY, Oklahoma.
How Does Bell Avenue Nursing Center Compare to Other Oklahoma Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Oklahoma, BELL AVENUE NURSING CENTER's overall rating (4 stars) is above the state average of 2.6, staff turnover (28%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Bell Avenue Nursing Center?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "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?"
Is Bell Avenue Nursing Center Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, BELL AVENUE NURSING 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 4-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Oklahoma. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Bell Avenue Nursing Center Stick Around?
Staff at BELL AVENUE NURSING CENTER tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 28%, the facility is 18 percentage points below the Oklahoma average of 46%. Low turnover is a positive sign. It means caregivers have time to learn each resident's needs, medications, and personal preferences. Consistent staff also notice subtle changes in a resident's condition more quickly.
Was Bell Avenue Nursing Center Ever Fined?
BELL AVENUE NURSING CENTER has been fined $31,008 across 1 penalty action. This is below the Oklahoma average of $33,389. While any fine indicates a compliance issue, fines under $50,000 are relatively common and typically reflect isolated problems that were subsequently corrected. Families should ask what specific issues led to these fines and confirm they've been resolved.
Is Bell Avenue Nursing Center on Any Federal Watch List?
BELL AVENUE NURSING 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.