SAUK CO HEALTH CARE CENTER
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Sauk Co Health Care Center has received a Trust Grade of F, indicating a poor standing with significant concerns. It ranks #241 out of 321 facilities in Wisconsin, placing it in the bottom half of state options, and #5 out of 5 in Sauk County, meaning there are no better local alternatives. Although the facility is showing some improvement in issues over time, reducing from 6 to 5 problems, it still has a high staffing turnover rate of 59%, which is concerning compared to the state average of 47%. The facility has incurred fines totaling $160,977, which is higher than 88% of Wisconsin facilities, suggesting ongoing compliance issues. Specific incidents include a resident developing a serious pressure ulcer due to inadequate care and another resident suffering a perforated colon after failing to receive proper assessments and physician notifications. While staffing is rated at 4 out of 5 stars, indicating some stability, the overall quality of care is below average, with critical incidents raising serious red flags for potential residents and their families.
- Trust Score
- F
- In Wisconsin
- #241/321
- Safety Record
- High Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 59% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- $160,977 in fines. Lower than most Wisconsin facilities. Relatively clean record.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 75 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of Wisconsin nursing homes. RNs are the most trained staff who catch health problems before they become serious.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 11 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
4-Star Staffing Rating · Above-average nurse staffing levels
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, fire safety.
The Bad
Below Wisconsin average (3.0)
Below average - review inspection findings carefully
13pts above Wisconsin avg (46%)
Frequent staff changes - ask about care continuity
Well above median ($33,413)
Significant penalties indicating serious issues
11 points above Wisconsin average of 48%
The Ugly 11 deficiencies on record
Apr 2025
5 deficiencies
1 IJ
CRITICAL
(J)
Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) - the most serious Medicare violation
Pressure Ulcer Prevention
(Tag F0686)
Someone could have died · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and record review, the facility did not ensure a resident received care, consistent with professional standar...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Abuse Prevention Policies
(Tag F0607)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on interview and record review, the facility did not implement policies and procedures to prohibit and prevent abuse for 1 of 8 staff reviewed for caregiver background checks.
LPN G (Licensed Pr...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Incontinence Care
(Tag F0690)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility did not ensure a resident with a catheter receives appropriate ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Unnecessary Medications
(Tag F0759)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility did not ensure that it was free of medication error rates of 5%...
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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, interview, and record review, the facility did not assure drugs and biologicals used in the facility were stored and labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional pr...
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Oct 2024
3 deficiencies
2 IJ
CRITICAL
(J)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) - the most serious Medicare violation
Quality of Care
(Tag F0684)
Someone could have died · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and record review, the facility did not ensure that each resident received, and the facility provided, care a...
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CRITICAL
(J)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) - the most serious Medicare violation
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Someone could have died · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure each resident (R) received adequate supervision to prevent a...
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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
Deficiency F0757
(Tag F0757)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and record review, the facility did not ensure that each resident's drug regimen was adequately monitored and...
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May 2024
3 deficiencies
1 IJ
CRITICAL
(J)
Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) - the most serious Medicare violation
Pressure Ulcer Prevention
(Tag F0686)
Someone could have died · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility did not ensure each resident receives care, consistent with pro...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0687
(Tag F0687)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and record, the facility did not ensure that 4 of 4 sampled residents (R1, R12, R13, and R35) received treatm...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0804
(Tag F0804)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation and interviews, the facility failed to serve food at an appetizing temperature. This has the potential to a...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "What changes have you made since the serious inspection findings?"
- "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
- • Licensed and certified facility. Meets minimum state requirements.
- • Multiple safety concerns identified: 4 life-threatening violation(s), $160,977 in fines. Review inspection reports carefully.
- • 11 deficiencies on record, including 4 critical (life-threatening) violations. These warrant careful review before choosing this facility.
- • $160,977 in fines. Extremely high, among the most fined facilities in Wisconsin. Major compliance failures.
- • Grade F (0/100). Below average facility with significant concerns.
About This Facility
What is Sauk Co Health's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns SAUK CO HEALTH CARE CENTER an overall rating of 2 out of 5 stars, which is considered below average nationally. Within Wisconsin, this rating places the facility higher than 0% of the state's 100 nursing homes. A rating at this level reflects concerns identified through health inspections, staffing assessments, or quality measures that families should carefully consider.
How is Sauk Co Health Staffed?
CMS rates SAUK CO HEALTH CARE CENTER's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 59%, which is 13 percentage points above the Wisconsin average of 46%. High turnover can affect care consistency as new staff learn residents' individual needs. RN turnover specifically is 76%, which is notably high. RNs provide skilled clinical oversight, so turnover in this role can affect medical care quality.
What Have Inspectors Found at Sauk Co Health?
State health inspectors documented 11 deficiencies at SAUK CO HEALTH CARE CENTER during 2024 to 2025. These included: 4 Immediate Jeopardy (the most serious level, indicating potential for serious harm or death) and 7 with potential for harm. Immediate Jeopardy findings are rare and represent the most serious regulatory concerns. They require immediate corrective action.
Who Owns and Operates Sauk Co Health?
SAUK CO HEALTH CARE 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 82 certified beds and approximately 49 residents (about 60% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in REEDSBURG, Wisconsin.
How Does Sauk Co Health Compare to Other Wisconsin Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Wisconsin, SAUK CO HEALTH CARE CENTER's overall rating (2 stars) is below the state average of 3.0, staff turnover (59%) is significantly higher than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (2 stars) is below the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Sauk Co Health?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "What changes have been made since the serious inspection findings, and how are you preventing similar issues?" "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?" These questions are particularly relevant given the facility's Immediate Jeopardy citations and the facility's high staff turnover rate.
Is Sauk Co Health Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, SAUK CO HEALTH CARE CENTER has documented safety concerns. Inspectors have issued 4 Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death). The facility has a 2-star overall rating and ranks #100 of 100 nursing homes in Wisconsin. Families considering this facility should ask detailed questions about what corrective actions have been taken since these incidents.
Do Nurses at Sauk Co Health Stick Around?
Staff turnover at SAUK CO HEALTH CARE CENTER is high. At 59%, the facility is 13 percentage points above the Wisconsin average of 46%. Registered Nurse turnover is particularly concerning at 76%. 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 Sauk Co Health Ever Fined?
SAUK CO HEALTH CARE CENTER has been fined $160,977 across 3 penalty actions. This is 4.6x the Wisconsin average of $34,689. Fines at this level are uncommon and typically indicate a pattern of serious deficiencies, repeated violations, or failure to correct problems promptly. CMS reserves penalties of this magnitude for facilities that pose significant, documented risk to resident health or safety. Families should request specific documentation of what issues led to these fines and what systemic changes have been implemented.
Is Sauk Co Health on Any Federal Watch List?
SAUK CO HEALTH 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.