Map showing the location of Wapello Specialty Care in WAPELLO, Iowa
601 HIGHWAY 61 SOUTH, WAPELLO, IA, 52653

Overall Score

CMS Five-Star Quality Rating
4/5Above averageCMS Five-Star overall rating
  1. Much below average
  2. Below average
  3. Average
  4. Above average
  5. Much above average

Where it ranks

  • IowaAbove 56% of peers388 rated homes · average 3.1★
  • United StatesAbove 61% of peers14,574 rated homes · average 3.0★

How the rating is built

  • Health inspectionsStarting point3★+0.1 vs IA avg
  • StaffingCan add or remove a star4★+0.5 vs IA avg
  • Quality measuresCan add or remove a star5★+1.6 vs IA avg

CMS starts from the health inspection stars, then adds or subtracts a star for staffing and for quality measures. Stars are assigned relative to other facilities in the same state.

Ratings & measures

Tap a row to see what it means
Health inspection ratingCMS stars from the last three on-site inspection cycles3★Above only 41% of peersIA avg2.9★U.S. avg2.8★
What is health inspection rating?

Stars assigned from the last three standard surveys and every complaint investigation in that window, weighted toward the most recent and the most serious findings. CMS assigns these stars relative to other facilities in the same state.

Why it matters

It carries the most weight in the overall rating and is the only domain based on what trained inspectors saw on site rather than what the facility reported.

Staffing ratingCMS stars from payroll-reported hours and turnover4★Above only 43% of peersIA avg3.5★U.S. avg2.9★
What is staffing rating?

Nurse and aide hours per resident day from payroll records CMS collects every quarter, adjusted for how much care residents need, plus staff turnover and weekend coverage.

Why it matters

More hours and lower turnover are the strongest predictors of fewer falls, pressure sores, and avoidable hospital stays.

Quality measures ratingCMS stars from clinical outcomes and resident assessments5★Above 78% of peersIA avg3.4★U.S. avg3.6★
What is quality measures rating?

Clinical outcomes from resident assessments and Medicare claims: falls with injury, pressure ulcers, hospitalizations, antipsychotic use, and more, for both short-stay and long-stay residents.

Why it matters

It shows whether care is working, but part of it comes from the facility’s own assessments, so read it alongside the inspection results.

Total nurse hoursPer resident per day, all nursing staff3.38hrsAbove only 25% of peersIA avg3.83Benchmark4.10
What is total nurse hours?

All licensed nurse and aide hours worked, divided by the number of residents, on an average day. Reported from payroll, not self-reported.

Why it matters

Federal research links 4.1 hours a day to fewer avoidable harms. Below about 3 hours, residents wait longer for help with basics like toileting and repositioning.

RN hoursPer resident per day, registered nurses only1.03hrsAbove 89% of peersIA avg0.73Benchmark0.75
What is rn hours?

Registered nurse hours only. RNs assess residents, manage medications, and catch changes in condition; LPNs and aides deliver most hands-on care.

Why it matters

RN coverage is the staffing measure most tied to fewer hospital transfers and infections, and it is where thinly staffed facilities cut first.

Nursing staff turnoverShare of nursing staff who left within a year · lower is better33%Above 79% of peersIA avg44%RN turnover22%
What is nursing staff turnover?

The share of nursing staff who left within the past year, from the same payroll data.

Why it matters

High turnover means residents are cared for by people who do not know them, and it is one of the strongest predictors of inspection problems.

Fines in the last three yearsCivil money penalties imposed by CMS · lower is better$0Above only 39% of peersIA avg$21,037Fines · denials0 · 1
What is fines in the last three years?

Civil money penalties CMS imposed after serious or uncorrected deficiencies, and denials of Medicare payment for new admissions.

Why it matters

Penalties follow the worst inspection findings. A recent fine is the clearest sign that inspectors found real harm.

Inspection history

Last three inspection cycles
29citations
4inspection dates
3actual harm (G–I)
0immediate jeopardy (J–L)
Nov 20, 2025most recent

Citations by monthSep 2023 – Nov 2025

  • No actual harm (D–F)
  • Actual harm (G–I)
  • Immediate jeopardy (J–L)
  • $Fine or payment denial

Click a month or a year to filter the findings below. Arrow keys move between months; Esc clears.

Nov 20, 20251 citationCycle 1worst D · no actual harm
  1. F880Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.Infection ControlD · isolatedCorrected Dec 2, 2025
Oct 3, 20245 citationsCycle 2worst E · no actual harm
  1. F812Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.Nutrition and DietaryE · patternCorrected Oct 17, 2024
  2. F690Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.Quality of Life and CareD · isolatedCorrected Oct 17, 2024
  3. F658Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.Resident Assessment and Care PlanningD · isolatedCorrected Oct 17, 2024
  4. F689Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.Quality of Life and CareD · isolatedCorrected Oct 17, 2024
  5. F657Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.Resident Assessment and Care PlanningD · isolatedCorrected Oct 17, 2024
Apr 11, 20243 citationsCycle 2worst D · no actual harm
  1. F600Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and ExploitationD · isolatedCorrected Apr 24, 2024
  2. F609Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and ExploitationD · isolatedCorrected Apr 24, 2024
  3. F689Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.Quality of Life and CareD · isolatedCorrected Apr 24, 2024
Sep 21, 202320 citationsCycle 3worst G · actual harmpayment denial
  1. F657Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.Resident Assessment and Care PlanningE · patternCorrected Oct 20, 2023
  2. F658Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.Resident Assessment and Care PlanningD · isolatedCorrected Oct 20, 2023
  3. F677Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.Quality of Life and CareD · isolatedCorrected Oct 20, 2023
  4. F740Ensure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.Quality of Life and CareD · isolatedCorrected Oct 20, 2023
  5. F842Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.Resident Assessment and Care PlanningD · isolatedCorrected Nov 29, 2023
  6. F865Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.AdministrationC · widespreadCorrected Oct 20, 2023
  7. F578Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.Resident RightsD · isolatedCorrected Nov 29, 2023
  8. F622Not transfer or discharge a resident without an adequate reason; and must provide documentation and convey specific information when a resident is transferred or discharged.Resident RightsD · isolatedCorrected Oct 20, 2023
  9. F686Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.Quality of Life and CareG · isolatedCorrected Oct 20, 2023
  10. F689Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.Quality of Life and CareG · isolatedCorrected Nov 29, 2023
  11. Assure that each resident’s assessment is updated at least once every 3 months.Resident Assessment and Care PlanningD · isolatedCorrected Nov 29, 2023
  12. F690Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.Quality of Life and CareG · isolatedCorrected Oct 20, 2023
  13. Encode each resident’s assessment data and transmit these data to the State within 7 days of assessment.Resident Assessment and Care PlanningD · isolatedCorrected Oct 20, 2023
  14. Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.Quality of Life and CareD · isolatedCorrected Oct 20, 2023
  15. F550Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.Resident RightsD · isolatedCorrected Oct 20, 2023
  16. F554Allow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.Resident RightsD · isolatedCorrected Oct 20, 2023
  17. F580Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.Resident RightsD · isolatedCorrected Oct 20, 2023
  18. F637Assess the resident when there is a significant change in conditionResident Assessment and Care PlanningD · isolatedCorrected Nov 29, 2023
  19. F644Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.Resident Assessment and Care PlanningD · isolatedCorrected Nov 29, 2023
  20. F645PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual DisabilitiesResident Assessment and Care PlanningD · isolatedCorrected Oct 20, 2023

Staffing

From quarterly payroll reports

Hours per resident per day

  • All nursing staffRNs, LPNs and aides combined3.38hrsAbove only 25% of peers−0.45 vs IA avg
  • Registered nursesRN hours only1.03hrsAbove 89% of peers+0.30 vs IA avg
  • Licensed practical nursesLPN hours0.29hrs
  • Nurse aidesCNA hours2.06hrs
  • Weekend nursingAll staff on Saturdays and Sundays3.12hrs
  • Iowa average
  • Research benchmark (4.10 total, 0.75 RN)

Turnover & capacity

  • Nursing staff turnoverShare who left within a year · lower is better33%Above 79% of peersIA avg 44%
  • RN turnoverRegistered nurses only22%Not ranked by CMS
  • Administrators who leftIn the past year0Stable leadership
  • Occupancy49 certified beds · ~36 residents a day74%Above only 26% of peersIA avg 81%

Fines & penalties

Roughly the past three years

Enforcement summary

  • $0In fines
  • 0Fines
  • 1Payment denial
  • $21,037IA avg in fines
Above only 39% of peersFewer fines than 39% of rated homes in Iowa

Actions on record

  1. Sep 21, 2023Denial of payment for new admissionsfrom Oct 25, 2023

Ownership

As filed with CMS

Structure

Ownership type
Non profit - Corporation
Chain
Care Initiatives43 facilities in the chain3.0★ chain average
Certification
Medicare and Medicaid
Location type
Rural
Ownership change
None in the last 12 months

People and entities on file

Direct owners (5%+)
  • Care Initiatives
Operational or managerial control
  • Charissa Baedke
  • Kristen Paris
  • Shipeng Wei
Corporate directors
  • Michael Beal
  • Lane Bowen
  • Mary Jane Carothers
  • Kevin Childs
  • Peter Corless
  • Keith Krein
  • Elizabeth Rust
  • Denise Sturm
  • +1 more
Corporate officers
  • Michael Beal
  • David Dixon
  • Emily Drake
  • Tanya Gilyard
  • Jeramy Kuhn
  • Jessica McDyer
  • Johanna Volm
Mortgage or security interest (5%+)
  • Computershare Corporate Trust

Person Organization

Sources & notes

Public data, updated quarterly

Data sources

  • CMS Care Compare · Provider InformationStar ratings, staffing hours, turnover, penalties and flags · processed February 2026.
  • CMS Health CitationsEvery deficiency from the last three inspection cycles, with scope, severity and inspection cycle.
  • CMS Penalties and Ownership filesCivil money penalties, payment denials, and the owners and managers on file.

Notes

  • CMS Certification Number 165452 · 601 HIGHWAY 61 SOUTH, WAPELLO, IA, 52653.
  • Percentiles compare this facility with every rated nursing home in Iowa and Louisa County. Turnover and fines are inverted so a high percentile is always good.
  • This is an informational summary of public data, not medical, legal, or placement advice. Facilities cannot pay to change it; a facility that believes a record is wrong can dispute it with CMS.

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