Greater Southside Health and Rehabilitation
On Medicare Special Focus status, a serious quality warning. Visit in person and ask tough questions before deciding.
based on 8 Google reviews

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Quality Concerns Identified
Medicare inspection and quality data reveal areas that families should carefully evaluate before choosing this facility.
- Special Focus Facility (under heightened CMS scrutiny)
- Abuse citation on record
- Low overall rating (1/5 stars)
- Low staffing rating (1/5 stars)
- Above-median deficiencies (27 vs median 5)
- High staff turnover (74%)
- High RN turnover (87%)
Bottom 25% in IA · Critically understaffed (RN) · Very high staff turnover · Worst in THE ENSIGN GROUP chain · $368,060 in fines · Special Focus Facility (CMS) · Abuse citation
What this means for your family
While the therapy department is highly regarded, the recent reports of nursing delays and unprofessional staff conduct are concerning. When touring, we strongly recommend observing staff-to-resident interactions and asking management specifically how they address nursing response times during busy shifts.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
8 reviews on Google“Greater Southside Health and Rehabilitation receives conflicting feedback, with some families praising the therapy department and facility renovations, while others report significant concerns regarding staff conduct and responsiveness. While the therapy team is frequently highlighted as a strength, multiple visitors and family members have noted long delays in nursing care and instances of unprofessional behavior by staff.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Diligent and skilled therapy department
- Newly remodeled facility updates
- Compassionate and patient-centered care (reported by some)
Concerns
- Significant delays in nursing response times (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution · 8 analyzed
How They Respond to Reviews
This facility rarely responds to reviews.
Questions for Your Tour
- 1Given the recent facility updates, how have these physical improvements impacted the daily environment and comfort for the residents?
- 2I noticed the therapy department is highly regarded; how do you ensure that same level of dedication and consistency across the nursing and support staff?
- 3What specific protocols or systems do you have in place to ensure that resident call lights are answered promptly and needs are met in a timely manner?
- 4With the current staffing levels, how does your team prioritize communication with families to ensure we are kept fully informed about our loved one's health and daily status?
- 5How do you address and resolve the safety or care deficiencies identified in recent state inspections to ensure a high standard of ongoing care?
- 6What does a typical day look like for a resident here, and how do you tailor activities to keep them engaged given the current facility capacity?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“Today will be the third incident where staff finds it appropriate to verbally disrespect my mother by invalidating and yelling at her.”
“The nurses seem to have an hour to 2 hours delay on anything.”
“Incredible therapy department with in house therapy and PT/OT/ST fully staffed!”
Staffing
Staffing Hours
per resident/day · Medicare 2026Both RN and total nursing hours are below national benchmarks. This can mean less clinical attention per resident, so ask about their staffing plan.
Quality Measures
Quality Measures
Resident outcomes compared with national, state, and local averages · 17 measures
5
measures
8
measures
4
measures
Residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Residents on anti-anxiety or sleep medication
Residents on antipsychotic medication
Residents vaccinated for the flu
Residents whose walking got worse
Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse
Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Short-stay residents vaccinated for the flu
Short-stay residents newly given antipsychotics
US average from Medicare published data
Inspection History
Medicare Inspection History
3-year lookback · Medicare 2026
This facility has a concerning pattern of complaints from families that have led to 61 deficiencies across multiple surveys, with serious issues in safety supervision, care quality, and abuse prevention recurring throughout the inspection period. Key problem areas include accident prevention and supervision, medication management, and protecting residents from abuse and neglect. While the facility corrects issues when cited, the repeated nature of similar violations across recent surveys suggests ongoing systemic problems that families should carefully evaluate before choosing this facility.
Oct 27, 2025Complaint5
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Provide doctor's orders for the resident's immediate care at the time the resident was admitted.
Sep 3, 2025Complaint4
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Jun 10, 2025Routine16
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Smoke Deficiencies
Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Meet requirements for the use and maintenance of medical gas equipment.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
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.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Prevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
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.
Egress Deficiencies
Add doors in an exit area that do not require the use of a key from the exit side unless in case of special locking arrangements.
Egress Deficiencies
Have properly located and lighted "Exit" signs.
Smoke Deficiencies
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Services Deficiencies
Have properly installed electrical wiring and gas equipment.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have proper medical gas storage and administration areas.
Jun 10, 2025Complaint5
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Ensure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Ensure each resident receives and the facility provides food prepared in a form designed to meet individual needs.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Apr 24, 2025Complaint1
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Mar 20, 2025Complaint4
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
Environmental Deficiencies
Make sure that a working call system is available in each resident's bathroom and bathing area.
Federal Penalties
Fine
Oct 2, 2024
$85,810
Fine
Aug 29, 2024
$25,454
Fine
Jul 12, 2024
$26,374
Fine
Apr 19, 2024
$28,805
Payment Denial
Apr 19, 2024
17-day denial
State Inspection History
State Inspections
Source: Iowa Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing
Apr 29, 2026ComplaintClean
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Apr 9, 2026ComplaintClean
Fed violations: 5, State violations: 1
Nov 25, 2025ComplaintClean
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Oct 27, 2025ComplaintClean
Fed violations: 5, State violations: 1
Sep 18, 2025ComplaintClean
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Sep 3, 2025ComplaintClean
Fed violations: 4, State violations: 0
Jun 30, 2025ComplaintClean
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Jun 23, 2025InspectionClean
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Ownership & Operations
Who Operates This Facility
Greater Southside Health and Rehabilitation
for profit
Chain Affiliation
The Ensign Group
338 facilities nationwide
Chain avg rating: 3.2/5 · Rank 299 of 328 (Worst)
Ownership & Management
Key personnel
Contact
Get in Touch
Contact this facility directly and verify the details that matter most to your family.
References & Resources
Medicare Care Compare
Official Medicare quality ratings, inspections & staffing data
Google Maps
Photos, directions & neighborhood info
Google Reviews
8 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
Visit greatersouthside.com
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
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