What is Avera Eureka Health Care Center's Medicare star rating?

CMS rates Avera Eureka Health Care Center 4 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 for health inspections, 4 for staffing and 4 for quality measures (CMS data as of September 1, 2026).

How many deficiencies did Avera Eureka Health Care Center get at its last inspection?

3 health deficiencies at the standard inspection on June 11, 2026. The South Dakota average is 6.7.

Does Avera Eureka Health Care Center accept Medicaid?

It is certified to take Medicaid (CMS lists it as "Medicare and Medicaid"). Certification does not mean a Medicaid bed is open: ask the admissions office.

Who owns Avera Eureka Health Care Center?

CMS lists 25 owners and managers, and links the home to Avera Health. Legal business name: AVERA ST LUKES.

Avera Eureka Health Care Center: Inspections & Ratings

The record in brief

At its most recent standard inspection, on June 11, 2026, inspectors cited 3 health deficiencies (the South Dakota average is 6.7, the national average 9.2).

Of 10 health citations since October 2023, 1 was rated as actual harm or immediate jeopardy to residents.

CMS lists 1 fine totaling $12,252 in the last three years; the largest was $12,252, and the latest is dated February 13, 2025.

Nurses and nurse aides worked 3.10 hours per resident per day, against 3.79 across South Dakota and 3.86 nationally. Registered nurses accounted for 0.80 of those hours.

32.5% of nursing staff left within the year CMS measured (South Dakota average 48.2%).

CMS links it to Avera Health, an affiliated group of 13 nursing homes.

Health inspections

Federal rules call for a standard inspection at least every 15 months, plus a visit whenever a complaint is filed. Each mark below is one citation, colored by how serious inspectors rated it. How to read a citation.

Under each citation, the quoted text is the inspector's own summary from the federal statement of deficiencies (CMS form 2567), word for word apart from a privacy scrub; CMS removes residents' and staff names before it publishes the text. The full notes are on Medicare.gov.

210/23

502/25

306/26

Potential for minimal harm Potential for more than minimal harm Actual harm Immediate jeopardy Found on a complaint visit

Where its citations fall on CMS's grid

CMS rates every citation by how much harm it caused (rows) and how many residents it touched (columns). The count in each box is this home's, across all 10 health citations on file.

Severity

Isolated

Pattern

Widespread

Immediate jeopardy

Actual harm

Potential for more than minimal harm

Potential for minimal harm

June 11, 2026Standard inspection · 3 citations

E

Honor 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.

F578 · Resident Rights · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, pattern · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) July 13, 2026

Inspectors wroteBased on record review, interview, and policy review, the provider failed to ensure the code status (emergent treatment a person wishes to receive if their heart or breathing would stop) for ten of ten sampled residents (5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 22, 31, 39, 40, and 45) was documented in the residents' electronic medical records (EMR).
E

Try different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail.

F700 · Quality of Life and Care · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, pattern · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) July 26, 2026

Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, record review, and policy review, the provider failed to ensure the manufacturer's instructions were followed for the installation of assistive devices ( T Shaped poles attached to the residents' bed frames to be used for bed mobility) to the residents' beds, alternatives to the assistive devices were attempted before the assistive devices were installed, and the date of installation was documented for nine of nine sampled residents (1, 9, 10, 32, 34, 35, 36, 43, and 47), a physician's order was obtained before the installation of the assistive device for five of nine sampled residents (1, 9, 32, 34, and 47), a safety assessment was completed for four of nine sampled residents (1, 9, 34, and 35), and informed consent was obtained for the use of the assistive device for two of nine sampled residents (9 and 34) who had assistive devices on their beds.
D

Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

F812 · Nutrition and Dietary · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) July 26, 2026

Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, and policy review, the provider failed to ensure one of one walk-in refrigerators were free from rust on the metal wire storage shelf that had flaked off and landed on the uncovered raw vegetables that were stored on that metal wire shelf.

February 13, 2025Standard inspection · 5 citations

G

Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.

F692 · Quality of Life and Care · Actual harm, isolated · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) March 14, 2025

Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, record review, and policy review the provider failed to thoroughly assess for nutritional needs that included use of built up silverware, consistently implement, monitor, make care intervention revisions, notify the physician timely of unplanned weight loss; and ensure licensed nursing staff were aware of the reweigh policy and physician notification policy and all licensed nursing and dietary staff were aware of the enhanced food program for one of one sampled resident (43) at nutritional risk and with significant weight loss.
F

Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

F812 · Nutrition and Dietary · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespread · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) March 14, 2025

Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, record review, and policy review the provider failed to ensure: *Items were not stored under the food preparation sink in one of one kitchen. *Documentation was completed for the cleaning and sanitation of one of one dishwasher. *A process was in place to test and document sanitation levels in sanitation buckets for one of one kitchen. *Refrigerator and freezer temperatures were documented for two of two refrigerators and two of two freezers in one of one kitchen. *Food temperatures were measured prior to serving by one of one cook (G) and documented. *Proper food handling processes were in place for four of four observed certified nursing assistants (CNA M, N, O, and Q) and two of two dietary staff (K, and L) during two of two observed meal services. [...]
F

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

F880 · Infection Control · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespread · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) March 14, 2025

Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, record review, and policy review, the provider failed to ensure infection prevention practices were performed by: *Not following provider policy for use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for one of one resident (47) on enhanced barrier precautions by one of one staff (LPN F). *Not having placed one of one resident (37) with a pressure ulcer on enhanced barrier precautions. *Not performing appropriate hand hygiene during three of five observations of two of two staff (LPN F and RN S). *Not following provider policy for nebulizer tubing changes for one of two sampled residents (50). *Not cleaning multi-use items properly during three of four observations of one of one of one of one staff (RN S). *Not maintaining the appropriate cleanliness and storage of multi-use items in one of one observed beauty shop and one of one observed tub room. [...]
E

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

F689 · Quality of Life and Care · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, pattern · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) March 14, 2025

Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, and policy review the provider failed to ensure the proper storage of hazardous products and sharp objects to prevent resident accidents in one of one observed facility beauty shop.
E

Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.

F761 · Pharmacy Service · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, pattern · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) March 14, 2025

Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, record review, and policy review, the provider failed to establish and maintain a process to accurately identify and reconcile as well as appropriately secure and store scheduled controlled medications in two of two medication carts for eight of eight sampled residents (1, 12, 15, 39, 49, 52, 206, and 306).

October 19, 2023Standard inspection · 2 citations

E

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

F880 · Infection Control · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, pattern · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) November 10, 2023

Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, record review, and policy review, the provider failed to: *Ensure one of one sampled resident's (52) nebulizer machine and one of one sampled resident's (48) continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine tubing was appropriately cleaned per policy guidelines. *Develop and implement hygienic and infection control guidelines for the maintenance of one of one sampled resident's (54) perineal care (peri-care) wiping tongs (a long-handled device used to maintain independence in wiping oneself after toileting).
D

Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.

F761 · Pharmacy Service · No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolated · Corrected (the home has a date of correction) November 10, 2023

Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, record review, and policy review, the provider failed to ensure one of one sampled resident (54) had his insulin medication stored in an appropriate and safe manner according to the provider's policy and accepted standards of practice

Fire safety inspections

2 fire safety citations on file: 1 on February 13, 2025, 1 on October 19, 2023.

Every fire safety citation2 citations

B
Meet other general requirements.

K 100 · February 13, 2025 · deficient, provider has
C
Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.

K 291 · October 19, 2023 · deficient, provider has

Fines and payment denials

Date	Penalty	Amount or length
February 13, 2025	Fine	$12,252

A payment denial means Medicare and Medicaid stopped paying for new admissions for that period.

Staffing

Hours of care per resident per day, from the payroll records every home sends CMS. Higher means more staff time with each resident.

Measure	This home	South Dakota	United States
All nursing staff (RN, LPN and aides)	3.10	3.79	3.86
Registered nurses	0.80	0.80	0.69
All nursing staff on weekends	2.53	3.26	3.42
Nurse aides	1.99
Licensed practical nurses	0.31
Nursing staff turnover (share who left in a year)	32.5%	48.2%	45.8%
Registered nurse turnover	11.1%	34.7%	42.9%
Administrators who left	0

CMS expects 3.06 hours a day for residents as sick as this home's (its case-mix figure). The staffing star compares the two.

Staffing by quarter, from daily payroll records

Every nursing home sends CMS its staff hours for each day (the Payroll Based Journal). Here they are added up by quarter. The latest quarter is the one behind the figures above. In January to March 2026, nursing staff hours per resident were 3.33 on weekdays and 2.53 on weekends, 24% lower on weekends (nationally, weekends ran 15% lower). Contract or agency staff worked 15.0% of nursing hours, against 5.3% nationally. Total nursing hours per resident went from 3.10 in April to June 2025 to 3.10 in January to March 2026.

Quarter	All nursing staff	Registered nurses	Weekdays	Weekends	Contract staff share	Days with no RN hours	Residents a day
Jan to Mar 2026	3.10	0.80	3.33	2.53	15.0%	0 of 90	52
Oct to Dec 2025	2.96	0.69	3.18	2.42	19.1%	0 of 92	52
Jul to Sep 2025	3.01	0.73	3.23	2.45	13.1%	0 of 92	52
Apr to Jun 2025	3.10	0.75	3.35	2.48	11.9%	0 of 91	51
United States, Jan to Mar 2026	3.75	0.62	3.92	3.33	5.3%	0.5% of days
South Dakota, Jan to Mar 2026	3.76	0.79	3.97	3.25	9.1%	1.1% of days

Hours per resident per day: staff hours in the quarter divided by resident days (the daily census CMS derives from resident assessments). Registered nurses include the director of nursing and RNs with administrative duties; aides include nurse aides in training and medication aides, as in CMS's own staffing measure. How these are calculated.

Staff pay reports

Staff pay at this home

No staff pay figure for this home has passed review yet. A figure appears only after at least 5 reports from at least 3 different people, sent over at least 60 days, have passed review.

Official wage estimates for South Dakota

Job	Median	Middle half	Employed
South Dakota, all employers
CNAs (nursing assistants)	$18.65	$17.71 to $21.12	6,860
LPNs and LVNs	$25.36	$23.88 to $29.47	2,050
Registered nurses	$37.53	$31.29 to $40.52	14,710
United States, nursing care facilities
CNAs (nursing assistants)	$20.67	$17.91 to $22.55	534,270
LPNs and LVNs	$33.86	$30.05 to $37.40	188,210
Registered nurses	$41.11	$37.85 to $47.68	142,270

Hourly wages; the middle half runs from the 25th to the 75th percentile. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. BLS has no separate estimate for medication aides. These are survey estimates for whole occupations, not figures for any one home.

How staff pay reports work · CNA pay by state

Quality measures

The measures CMS uses for the quality star. Lower is better for every one of them.

Measure	This home	South Dakota	US
Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1	21.8	21.4	13.9
Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1	1.6	2.1	0.8
Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1	4.5	2.9	1.6
Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1	6.5	5.5	3.2
Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1	16.5	19.4	14.1
Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1	0.6	4.6	4.6
Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1	5.3	24.6	15.4
Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231	1.1	1.5	1.9
Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231	1.7	1.8	1.8

Owners and operators

Legal business name: AVERA ST LUKES. CMS links this home to Avera Health, a group of 13 nursing homes averaging 3.8 stars overall.

Name	Role	Type	Share	Since
Avera Health	5% or greater direct ownership interest	Organization	100%	01/01/2008
Bierne, Kathleen	Managing control - governing body	Individual		07/01/2018
Fauth, Kristen	Managing control - governing body	Individual		07/01/2021
Fouberg, Erin	Managing control - governing body	Individual		07/01/2025
Franks, Shane	Managing control - governing body	Individual		07/01/2023
Golz, Heidi	Managing control - governing body	Individual		07/01/2018
Heinz, Blake	Managing control - governing body	Individual		07/01/2024
Herman, Michael	Managing control - governing body	Individual		07/01/2021
Jensen, Paula	Managing control - governing body	Individual		07/01/2023
Kerkvliet, Marietta	Managing control - governing body	Individual		07/01/2018
McNeil, David	Managing control - governing body	Individual		07/01/2025
Panowicz, Kathleen	Managing control - governing body	Individual		07/01/2011
Wobst, Garret	Managing control - governing body	Individual		07/01/2022
Bjerknes, Daniel	Corporate officer	Individual		08/15/2022
Lautt, Julie	Corporate officer	Individual		03/01/2020
Ostrowski, Susan	Corporate officer	Individual		05/01/2002
Weber, Carmen	Corporate officer	Individual		01/26/2004
Avera Health	Operational/managerial control	Organization		01/01/2000
Bjerknes, Daniel	Operational/managerial control	Individual		08/15/2022
Dover, James	Operational/managerial control	Individual		10/23/2023
Ostrowski, Susan	Operational/managerial control	Individual		05/01/2002
Weber, Carmen	Operational/managerial control	Individual		01/26/2004
Dover, James	Individual is an owner, partner or trustee of any ADP of the SNF	Individual		03/17/2026
Ostrowski, Susan	Adp of the SNF	Individual		02/12/2026
Weber, Carmen	Adp of the SNF	Individual		02/12/2026

As listed in the CMS ownership file, which names owners with a 5% or greater stake and the people and companies with operational or managerial control.

Questions to ask on a visit

Chosen from this home's own inspection record.

How do you prevent falls and pressure injuries, and how are families told when one happens?Inspectors cited 3 problems in this area, most recently on June 11, 2026: "Try different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail."
Can we see a week of menus and the kitchen, and how are special diets handled?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on June 11, 2026: "Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards."
What changed in infection control since the last inspection, and who on staff is the infection preventionist?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on February 13, 2025: "Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program."
How are medications reviewed, and how often are antipsychotic or sedating drugs used?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on February 13, 2025: "Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs."
Who is on the floor on Saturday and Sunday, and how many residents does each aide care for?Weekend nurse staffing here was 2.53 hours per resident per day, below the South Dakota average of 3.26.

Other nursing homes nearby

Ashley Medical Center Nursing Home
Ashley, 22.1 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 7 citations
Bowdle Nursing Home
Bowdle, 22.1 mi · 4 of 5 stars · 5 citations

South Dakota contacts for a concern about a nursing home

These are the official offices in South Dakota. NursingHomeClear cannot take or act on complaints.

Inspections and complaints: South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Health Facilities Licensure and Certification, the state agency that inspects nursing homes for CMS and takes complaints about care.
Resident advocate: South Dakota Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, Department of Human Services. The long-term care ombudsman is a free, confidential advocate for residents and families, set up under the federal Older Americans Act.
State inspection reports: South Dakota Department of Health Nursing Facility Reports, where South Dakota publishes its own records on licensed homes.

Common questions

What is Avera Eureka Health Care Center's Medicare star rating?: CMS rates Avera Eureka Health Care Center 4 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 for health inspections, 4 for staffing and 4 for quality measures (CMS data as of September 1, 2026).
How many deficiencies did Avera Eureka Health Care Center get at its last inspection?: 3 health deficiencies at the standard inspection on June 11, 2026. The South Dakota average is 6.7.
Has Avera Eureka Health Care Center been fined?: Yes. CMS lists 1 fine totaling $12,252 in the last three years.
Does Avera Eureka Health Care Center accept Medicaid?: It is certified to take Medicaid (CMS lists it as "Medicare and Medicaid"). Certification does not mean a Medicaid bed is open: ask the admissions office.
Who owns Avera Eureka Health Care Center?: CMS lists 25 owners and managers, and links the home to Avera Health. Legal business name: AVERA ST LUKES.

Sources

Ratings, staffing and fines: CMS Provider Information, released September 30, 2026, data as of September 1, 2026.
Citations: CMS Health Deficiencies and Fire Safety Deficiencies.
Owners: CMS Ownership. Penalties: CMS Penalties.
Staffing by quarter: CMS Payroll Based Journal Daily Nurse Staffing, April 2025 to March 2026, summed by NursingHomeClear.
Inspector summaries: CMS Full Statement of Deficiencies (CMS-2567 text), data as of September 1, 2026. Each quote is the part of the statement before the detailed findings.
Inspection reports with the inspectors' full notes are on this home's Medicare.gov page.
Something wrong on this page? Ask for a correction. We fix errors in our copy of the data; findings themselves can only be changed by CMS and the state.
NursingHomeClear is independent and not affiliated with CMS, Medicare or any state agency. This page reports federal records; it does not rate, recommend or endorse any home, and it is not medical or legal advice.