SOUTHERN OAKS CARE CENTER
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Southern Oaks Care Center in Pawnee, Oklahoma, has a Trust Grade of B, indicating it is a good choice for families seeking care, though there is room for improvement. Ranking #71 out of 282 facilities in Oklahoma places it in the top half, and as the #1 facility in Pawnee County, it is the best local option available. However, the facility is currently worsening, as the number of issues reported increased from 3 in 2023 to 4 in 2024. Staffing is rated average at 3 out of 5 stars, with a turnover rate of 59%, which is comparable to the state average, but more RN coverage than 81% of Oklahoma facilities is a positive aspect, suggesting good oversight. Despite these strengths, recent inspections revealed areas of concern, including staff failing to ensure that residents took their medications as prescribed and not maintaining proper hygiene protocols during medication administration, which poses a risk of infection. Overall, while there are strengths, families should carefully consider these weaknesses when researching this nursing home.
- Trust Score
- B
- In Oklahoma
- #71/282
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 59% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- $3,174 in fines. Lower than most Oklahoma facilities. Relatively clean record.
- Skilled Nurses ⚠ Watch
- Each resident gets only 26 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — below average for Oklahoma. Fewer RN minutes means fewer trained eyes watching for problems.
- Violations ○ Average
- 9 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in fire safety.
The Bad
13pts above Oklahoma avg (46%)
Frequent staff changes - ask about care continuity
Below median ($33,413)
Minor penalties assessed
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
11 points above Oklahoma average of 48%
The Ugly 9 deficiencies on record
Sept 2024
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Assessment Accuracy
(Tag F0641)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure a resident assessment was accurate related to falls for one (#7) of six residents whose resident assessments were reviewed.
The resi...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Pharmacy Services
(Tag F0755)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, record review, and interview, the facility failed to ensure:
a. staff remained with residents until medications were taken for four (#7, 8, 16, and #23), and
b. medications were...
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Aug 2024
2 deficiencies
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
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure an alleged incident of sexual abuse was reported to:
a. the ...
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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
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review, and interview, the facility failed to ensure food temperature monitoring policy was followe...
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Jul 2023
3 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 residents were offered the opportunity to formulate an Advan...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, record review, and interview, the facility failed to:
a. label and date food in the freezer,
b. keep the kitchen equipment clean and have a cleaning schedule,
c. log refrigerator...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, record review, and interview the facility failed to ensure:
a. staff did not touch medication which they administered to a resident with their bare hands for one (#18) and
b. han...
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Feb 2022
2 deficiencies
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
Based on observation, interview, and record review the facility failed to assess, monitor and intervene for one (#25) of one sampled resident reviewed for edema.
The MDS coordinator reported 14 reside...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview, and record review the facility failed to store, prepare, and serve food in a sanitary manner.
The facility has 33 residents who resided in the facility.
Findings:
1...
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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 major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • $3,174 in fines. Lower than most Oklahoma facilities. Relatively clean record.
- • 59% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
About This Facility
What is Southern Oaks's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns SOUTHERN OAKS CARE 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 Southern Oaks Staffed?
CMS rates SOUTHERN OAKS CARE CENTER's staffing level at 3 out of 5 stars, which is average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 59%, which is 13 percentage points above the Oklahoma average of 46%. High turnover can affect care consistency as new staff learn residents' individual needs. RN turnover specifically is 75%, which is notably high. RNs provide skilled clinical oversight, so turnover in this role can affect medical care quality.
What Have Inspectors Found at Southern Oaks?
State health inspectors documented 9 deficiencies at SOUTHERN OAKS CARE CENTER during 2022 to 2024. These included: 9 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Southern Oaks?
SOUTHERN OAKS CARE 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 PHOENIX HEALTHCARE, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 82 certified beds and approximately 47 residents (about 57% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in PAWNEE, Oklahoma.
How Does Southern Oaks Compare to Other Oklahoma Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Oklahoma, SOUTHERN OAKS CARE CENTER's overall rating (4 stars) is above the state average of 2.6, staff turnover (59%) is significantly higher than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Southern Oaks?
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 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 facility's high staff turnover rate.
Is Southern Oaks Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, SOUTHERN OAKS CARE 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 Southern Oaks Stick Around?
Staff turnover at SOUTHERN OAKS CARE CENTER is high. At 59%, the facility is 13 percentage points above the Oklahoma average of 46%. Registered Nurse turnover is particularly concerning at 75%. RNs handle complex medical decisions and coordinate care — frequent RN changes can directly impact care quality. 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 Southern Oaks Ever Fined?
SOUTHERN OAKS CARE CENTER has been fined $3,174 across 1 penalty action. This is below the Oklahoma average of $33,111. 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 Southern Oaks on Any Federal Watch List?
SOUTHERN OAKS CARE 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.