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White River Health Care Center
515 E 8th Street, White River, SD 57579 · Mellette County · (605) 259-3161
52 certified beds, about 32 residents a day · Non profit - Corporation · Medicaid since 1990
CMS Care Compare ratings, data as of September 1, 2026 · CCN 43A089 · See it on Medicare.gov · Compare with other homes
The record in brief
At its most recent standard inspection, on July 9, 2026, inspectors cited 4 health deficiencies (the South Dakota average is 6.7, the national average 9.2).
Of 6 health citations since December 2023, 1 was rated as actual harm or immediate jeopardy to residents.
CMS lists 1 fine totaling $6,168 in the last three years; the largest was $6,168, and the latest is dated November 18, 2024.
Nurses and nurse aides worked 5.48 hours per resident per day, against 3.79 across South Dakota and 3.86 nationally. Registered nurses accounted for 0.79 of those hours.
47.8% of nursing staff left within the year CMS measured (South Dakota average 48.2%).
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 6 health citations on file.
July 9, 2026Standard inspection · 4 citations
- E Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, and policy review, the provider failed to ensure hand hygiene, glove use, and medication handling according to the pharmacy instructions by one of one observed licensed practical nurse (LPN) (K) during medication preparation and administration of one of one sampled resident's (33) medications, including divalproex, a seizure medication with handling precautions.
- D Post nurse staffing information every day.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, and policy review, the provider failed to ensure the daily nurse staffing information, including the total number and the actual hours worked by registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, licensed vocational nurses, and certified nursing assistants per shift, was posted in a location visible and accessible to residents, staff, and visitors.
- D Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, record review, and policy review, the provider failed to ensure a medication error rate of less than 5 percent related to Flomax (a medication used to treat an enlarged prostate) was administered on time, and was administered according to the physician's order for one of one observed resident (33) by licensed practical nurse (LPN) (K,) and sodium chloride (a medication to treat low sodium levels in the blood) was administered on time for one of one observed resident (23) by LPN (K). Those observed errors resulted in a medication error rate of 6.9%.
- D Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, and policy review, the provider failed to ensure the staff followed standard infection prevention and control practices by one of one observed contracted travel certified nursing assistant (CNA) (J), and one of one observed CNA (E) who did not perform hand hygiene before and after glove use while providing personal cares for one of one sampled resident (2).
March 27, 2025Standard inspection · 0 citations
November 18, 2024Complaint inspection · 1 citation
- G Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Inspectors wroteBased on South Dakota Department of Health (SD DOH) facility reported incident (FRI) review, electronic medical record (EMR) review, observation, interview, and policy review, the provider failed to ensure one of one resident (1) was not abused by staff registered nurse (RN) (C), licensed practical nurse (LPN) (D), and certified nurse aide (CNA) (E) during the administration of a medication injection.
December 13, 2023Standard inspection · 1 citation
- D Provide or obtain dental services for each resident.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, record review, and policy review the provider failed to ensure one of one sampled resident (20) received recommended dental services after tooth extractions were completed.
Fire safety inspections
5 fire safety citations on file: 3 on March 27, 2025, 2 on December 13, 2023.
Every fire safety citation5 citations
- C Develop and maintain an Emergency Preparedness Program (EP).
- C Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
- C Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
- E Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
- E Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.
Fines and payment denials
| Date | Penalty | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| November 18, 2024 | Fine | $6,168 |
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) | 5.48 | 3.79 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses | 0.79 | 0.80 | 0.69 |
| All nursing staff on weekends | 4.68 | 3.26 | 3.42 |
| Nurse aides | 3.50 | ||
| Licensed practical nurses | 1.19 | ||
| Nursing staff turnover (share who left in a year) | 47.8% | 48.2% | 45.8% |
| Registered nurse turnover | 33.3% | 34.7% | 42.9% |
| Administrators who left | 0 |
CMS expects 2.88 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 5.81 on weekdays and 4.68 on weekends, 19% lower on weekends (nationally, weekends ran 15% lower). Contract or agency staff worked 0.0% of nursing hours, against 5.3% nationally. Total nursing hours per resident went from 4.85 in April to June 2025 to 5.48 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 | 5.48 | 0.79 | 5.81 | 4.68 | 0.0% | 0 of 90 | 32 |
| Oct to Dec 2025 | 5.08 | 0.73 | 5.41 | 4.23 | 0.0% | 0 of 92 | 33 |
| Jul to Sep 2025 | 4.64 | 0.61 | 4.94 | 3.88 | 0.0% | 0 of 92 | 35 |
| Apr to Jun 2025 | 4.85 | 0.60 | 5.26 | 3.85 | 0.0% | 2 of 91 | 33 |
| 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 | 13.9 | 21.4 | 13.9 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 0.8 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 1.6 | 5.5 | 3.2 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 3.9 | 19.4 | 14.1 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 3.0 | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 23.2 | 24.6 | 15.4 |
| Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 1.9 |
| Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
Owners and operators
Legal business name: Legal Business Name Not Available.
| Name | Role | Type | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership data not available |
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 are medications reviewed, and how often are antipsychotic or sedating drugs used?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on July 9, 2026: "Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist."
- How many nurses and aides work each shift, nights and weekends included?Inspectors cited 1 problem in this area, most recently on July 9, 2026: "Post nurse staffing information every day."
- What changed in infection control since the last inspection, and who on staff is the infection preventionist?Inspectors cited 1 problem in this area, most recently on July 9, 2026: "Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program."
- How are allegations of abuse or neglect reported and investigated, and who tells the family?Inspectors cited 1 problem in this area, most recently on November 18, 2024: "Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody."
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 White River Health Care Center's Medicare star rating?
- CMS rates White River Health 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 White River Health Care Center get at its last inspection?
- 4 health deficiencies at the standard inspection on July 9, 2026. The South Dakota average is 6.7.
- Has White River Health Care Center been fined?
- Yes. CMS lists 1 fine totaling $6,168 in the last three years.
- Does White River Health Care Center accept Medicaid?
- It is certified to take Medicaid (CMS lists it as "Medicaid"). Certification does not mean a Medicaid bed is open: ask the admissions office.
- Who owns White River Health Care Center?
- CMS lists 1 owner or manager. Legal business name: Legal Business Name Not Available.
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.