Home / South Dakota / Yankton
Avera Sister James Care Center
2111 West 11th Street, Yankton, SD 57078 · Yankton County · (605) 668-8900
194 certified beds, about 189 residents a day · Non profit - Corporation · Medicare and Medicaid since 1993
CMS Care Compare ratings, data as of September 1, 2026 · CCN 435070 · See it on Medicare.gov · Compare with other homes
The record in brief
At its most recent standard inspection, on May 14, 2026, inspectors cited 3 health deficiencies (the South Dakota average is 6.7, the national average 9.2).
Of 9 health citations since September 2023, 1 was rated as actual harm or immediate jeopardy to residents.
CMS lists 1 fine totaling $8,492 in the last three years; the largest was $8,492, and the latest is dated February 5, 2026.
Nurses and nurse aides worked 4.10 hours per resident per day, against 3.79 across South Dakota and 3.86 nationally. Registered nurses accounted for 1.17 of those hours.
31.3% 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.
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 9 health citations on file.
May 14, 2026Standard inspection · 3 citations
- E Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Inspectors wroteBased on record review, interview and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Long-Term Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) 3.0 User's Manual review, the provider failed to ensure four of six sampled residents' (3, 34, 107, and 151) Minimum Data Set (MDS) (a tool used to evaluate a resident's health status and to develop and individualized care plan to manage the resident's care needs) assessments were accurately coded for the areas of diagnosis, Pre-admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) or dialysis.
- E Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, and document review, the provider failed to follow food safety standards to ensure that equipment in food service and preparation areas was maintained in a sanitary condition for two of six pantry dishwashers, one of five wall-mounted fans, and one of fifteen handwashing sinks. This deficient practice had the potential to affect the safety of food served to residents.
- D Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, record review, interview, and policy review the provider failed to ensure infection control practices were followed for one of two sampled residents (22) who used a nebulizer (a device that converts liquid medication into an inhalable mist) machine that was not cleaned after each use by the nursing staff and according to the provider's policy.
February 5, 2026Complaint inspection · 1 citation
- G Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Inspectors wroteBased on South Dakota Department of Health (SD DOH) facility reported incident (FRI), observation, interview, record review, and policy review, the provider failed to ensure the staff used assistive safety devices for one of one resident (1) who fell, suffered a broken nose, and required emergency room treatment, while ambulating to a meal when one of one certified medication aide (E) failed to use a gait belt (a waist strap gripped as support for safe mobility and transfers) while assisting resident 1 with ambulating (walking).
January 8, 2025Standard inspection · 2 citations
- E Have policies on smoking.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, record review, and policy review, the provider failed to implement their tobaco free campus policy for three of three sampled residents (66, 115, and 144) who smoked on the provider's property.
- D Allow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, record review, and policy review, the provider failed to ensure: *Two of two sampled residents' (80 and 330) had been assessed to determine their ability to have safely self-administered those medications and a physician's order to self-administer those medications. *One of one sampled resident (330) who stored a self-administered medication at his bedside had a physician's order to have stored that medication at his bedside.
January 24, 2024Complaint inspection · 1 citation
- E Ensure residents do not lose the ability to perform activities of daily living unless there is a medical reason.
Inspectors wroteBased on a complaint, record review, observation, and interview, the provider failed to ensure six of eight sampled residents (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) had received regular scheduled bathing.
September 14, 2023Standard inspection · 2 citations
- D Notify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.
Inspectors wroteBased on record review, interview, and policy review, the provider failed to ensure two of two sampled residents (17 and 71) on the 200 Cabin unit had received a proper notification of bed hold notice option upon their transfer out of the facility.
- D Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, record review, and policy review, the provider failed to ensure three of ten sampled residents (68, 77 and 155) were assessed for ability the to safely self-administer medications that had been prepared by one of one registered nurse (RN) BB and one of one licensed practical nurse (LPN) E prior to allowing those residents to self-administer medications.
Fines and payment denials
| Date | Penalty | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| February 5, 2026 | Fine | $8,492 |
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) | 4.10 | 3.79 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses | 1.17 | 0.80 | 0.69 |
| All nursing staff on weekends | 3.68 | 3.26 | 3.42 |
| Nurse aides | 2.77 | ||
| Licensed practical nurses | 0.17 | ||
| Nursing staff turnover (share who left in a year) | 31.3% | 48.2% | 45.8% |
| Registered nurse turnover | 22.0% | 34.7% | 42.9% |
| Administrators who left | 0 |
CMS expects 3.68 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 4.27 on weekdays and 3.68 on weekends, 14% lower on weekends (nationally, weekends ran 15% lower). Contract or agency staff worked 0.1% of nursing hours, against 5.3% nationally. Total nursing hours per resident went from 3.94 in April to June 2025 to 4.10 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 | 4.10 | 1.17 | 4.27 | 3.68 | 0.1% | 0 of 90 | 189 |
| Oct to Dec 2025 | 3.91 | 1.08 | 4.09 | 3.45 | 0.4% | 0 of 92 | 189 |
| Jul to Sep 2025 | 3.97 | 1.04 | 4.20 | 3.38 | 1.0% | 0 of 92 | 187 |
| Apr to Jun 2025 | 3.94 | 1.04 | 4.19 | 3.31 | 1.0% | 0 of 91 | 182 |
| 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.
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 | 20.9 | 21.4 | 13.9 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 0.8 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 1.7 | 2.9 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 4.4 | 5.5 | 3.2 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication Short Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 16.9 | 19.4 | 14.1 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 3.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 21.4 | 24.6 | 15.4 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 21.2 | 19.9 | 23.8 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 10.4 | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.9 |
| Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
Owners and operators
Legal business name: SACRED HEART HEALTH SERVICES. 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 | 01/01/2001 | |
| Demuth, Jonathon | Corporate director | Individual | 07/01/2025 | |
| Hunhoff, Bernie | Corporate director | Individual | 07/01/2019 | |
| Hurley, John | Corporate director | Individual | 07/01/2020 | |
| Kolecka, Debra | Corporate director | Individual | 07/01/2017 | |
| Leon, Amy | Corporate director | Individual | 07/01/2019 | |
| Miner, Amy | Corporate director | Individual | 07/01/2025 | |
| Moeller, Arthur | Corporate director | Individual | 07/01/2024 | |
| Rezac, Barbara | Corporate director | Individual | 07/01/2025 | |
| Schindler, Steve | Corporate director | Individual | 07/01/2024 | |
| Schmeichel, Steve | Corporate director | Individual | 07/01/2024 | |
| Steward, Brian | Corporate director | Individual | 07/01/2018 | |
| Strom, Richard | Corporate director | Individual | 07/01/2017 | |
| Welbig, Lucille | Corporate director | Individual | 07/01/2002 | |
| Hanson, Victoria | Corporate officer | Individual | 05/03/2025 | |
| Lautt, Julie | Corporate officer | Individual | 03/01/2020 | |
| Dover, James | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 10/23/2023 | |
| Erickson, Anthony | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 03/30/2000 | |
| Holstein, Martha | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 02/01/2025 | |
| Erickson, Anthony | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 02/16/2026 | |
| Holstein, Martha | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 02/16/2026 |
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 May 14, 2026: "Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed."
- When is the care plan meeting, and can family attend it?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on May 14, 2026: "Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment."
- How do residents and families raise a complaint or grievance, and how fast is it answered?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on January 8, 2025: "Allow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate."
- Can we see a week of menus and the kitchen, and how are special diets handled?Inspectors cited 1 problem in this area, most recently on May 14, 2026: "Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards."
Other nursing homes nearby
- Sd Human Services Center - Geriatric Program Yankton, 2.8 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 5 citations
- Wakonda Heritage Manor Wakonda, 18.6 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 8 citations
- Sunset Manor Avera Health Irene, 19.6 mi · 2 of 5 stars · 17 citations
- Accura Healthcare of Hartington Hartington, 19.7 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 6 citations
- Good Samaritan Society - Bloomfield Bloomfield, 22.4 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 20 citations
- Good Samaritan Society Tyndall Tyndall, 23.5 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 14 citations
- Good Samaritan Society Scotland Scotland, 23.8 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 8 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 Sister James Care Center's Medicare star rating?
- CMS rates Avera Sister James Care Center 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 for health inspections, 5 for staffing and 4 for quality measures (CMS data as of September 1, 2026).
- How many deficiencies did Avera Sister James Care Center get at its last inspection?
- 3 health deficiencies at the standard inspection on May 14, 2026. The South Dakota average is 6.7.
- Has Avera Sister James Care Center been fined?
- Yes. CMS lists 1 fine totaling $8,492 in the last three years.
- Does Avera Sister James 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 Sister James Care Center?
- CMS lists 21 owners and managers, and links the home to Avera Health. Legal business name: SACRED HEART HEALTH SERVICES.
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.