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Nursing HomeMedicaid Investigative

Greater Southside Health and Rehabilitation

On Medicare Special Focus status, a serious quality warning. Visit in person and ask tough questions before deciding.

5608 Sw 9th Street, Greater South Side · Des Moines, IA 5031580 bedsLicensed & Active
1/5
Medicare
Inspection
Quality
Staffing
Google rating
3.6/5

based on 8 Google reviews

5
4
3
2
1
Greater Southside Health and Rehabilitation Nursing Home in Des Moines, IA — Street View
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10/ 10
critical Risk

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

Source: Medicare data

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 details
FoodN/AStaff4.0Clean8.0ActivitiesN/AMedsN/AMemoryN/AComms3.0ValueN/A

Strengths

  • 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

2345.02024(2)3.22025(5)3.02026(1)

Distribution · 8 analyzed

5
4
4
0
3
2
2
1
1
1

How They Respond to Reviews

13%response rate

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.

Long-term resident's family · 2025☆☆☆☆

The nurses seem to have an hour to 2 hours delay on anything.

Family member · 2026★★★☆☆

Incredible therapy department with in house therapy and PT/OT/ST fully staffed!

Family member · 2025★★★★★
Source: 8 Google reviews

Staffing

Staffing Hours

per resident/day · Medicare 2026
RN Hours
0.24hrs
32%
Registered nurses for medical care
Total Nursing
3.34hrs
81%
All nurses + aides combined
Staff Turnover
66%
Lower is better (< 30% = good)
RN Turnover
70%
Lower is better (< 30% = good)

Both 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

Medicare Rating
2/ 5
Better Than Avg

5

measures

Worse Than Avg

8

measures

Mixed Results

4

measures

Long-Stay Residents
💉

Residents vaccinated for pneumonia

↑ Higher is better
This Facility63.7%
Worse than Avg
Here
63.7%
US
93.4%
IA
93.9%
Polk
97.2%
💊

Residents on anti-anxiety or sleep medication

↓ Lower is better
This Facility36.8%
Worse than Avg
Here
36.8%
US
19.5%
IA
20.7%
Polk
20.6%
💊

Residents on antipsychotic medication

↓ Lower is better
This Facility22.1%
Worse than Avg
Here
22.1%
US
15.4%
IA
19.4%
Polk
11.1%
💉

Residents vaccinated for the flu

↑ Higher is better
This Facility87.1%
Worse than Avg
Here
87.1%
US
95.5%
IA
95.2%
Polk
96.5%
🚶

Residents whose walking got worse

↓ Lower is better
This Facility11.0%
Better than Avg
Here
11.0%
US
15.3%
IA
17.5%
Polk
16.7%
🚿

Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse

↓ Lower is better
This Facility25.7%
Mixed vs Avgs
Here
25.7%
US
19.4%
IA
25.9%
Polk
19.8%
Short-Stay Residents (Rehab / Post-Acute)
💉

Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia

↑ Higher is better
This Facility55.2%
Worse than Avg
Here
55.2%
US
81.8%
IA
84.0%
Polk
91.3%
💉

Short-stay residents vaccinated for the flu

↑ Higher is better
This Facility75.5%
Mixed vs Avgs
Here
75.5%
US
79.7%
IA
73.3%
Polk
83.3%
💊

Short-stay residents newly given antipsychotics

↓ Lower is better
This Facility2.3%
Worse than Avg
Here
2.3%
US
1.6%
IA
2.0%
Polk
1.5%
Source: Medicare quality measures

US average from Medicare published data

Inspection History

Medicare Inspection History

3-year lookback · Medicare 2026

22deficiencies
5penalties
Well above state avg (6.2)
44 complaint-triggered
$368,060 in fines

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, 2025Complaint
5
0600Actual harm · IsolatedCorrected

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.

0697Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.

0609Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies

Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.

0610Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies

Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.

0635Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

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, 2025Complaint
4
0725Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

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.

0550Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Resident Rights Deficiencies

Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.

0684Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.

0880Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Infection Control Deficiencies

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Jun 10, 2025Routine
16
0880Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Infection Control Deficiencies

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

0321Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Smoke Deficiencies

Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.

0922Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies

Meet requirements for the use and maintenance of medical gas equipment.

0578Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

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.

0605Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

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.

0641Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.

0655Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

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

0688Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

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.

0692Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

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

0761Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

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.

0222Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

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.

0293Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Egress Deficiencies

Have properly located and lighted "Exit" signs.

0353Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Smoke Deficiencies

Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.

0511Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Services Deficiencies

Have properly installed electrical wiring and gas equipment.

0920Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies

Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords.

0923Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies

Have proper medical gas storage and administration areas.

Jun 10, 2025Complaint
5
0803Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

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.

0812Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies

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

0759Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Pharmacy Service Deficiencies

Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.

0805Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies

Ensure each resident receives and the facility provides food prepared in a form designed to meet individual needs.

0842Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

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, 2025Complaint
1
0684Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.

Mar 20, 2025Complaint
4
0550Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Resident Rights Deficiencies

Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.

0600Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

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.

0698Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.

0919Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

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

10total
29deficiencies
Apr 29, 2026Complaint
Clean

Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0

Apr 9, 2026Complaint
Clean

Fed violations: 5, State violations: 1

Nov 25, 2025Complaint
Clean

Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0

Oct 27, 2025Complaint
Clean

Fed violations: 5, State violations: 1

Sep 18, 2025Complaint
Clean

Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0

Sep 3, 2025Complaint
Clean

Fed violations: 4, State violations: 0

Jun 30, 2025Complaint
Clean

Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0

Jun 23, 2025Inspection
Clean

Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0

Ownership & Operations

Who Operates This Facility

Owner / Operator

Greater Southside Health and Rehabilitation

Organization Type

for profit

Chain Affiliation

Chain Name

The Ensign Group

Chain Size

338 facilities nationwide

Chain avg rating: 3.2/5 · Rank 299 of 328 (Worst)

Ownership & Management

Key personnel

Timm, DirkW-2 Managing EmployeeJorgensen, DavidOfficer / DirectorBurnam, SoonOfficer / DirectorFitch, CraigOfficer / DirectorKoenig, DebraOfficer / Director
Source: Medicare provider data

Contact

Get in Touch

Contact this facility directly and verify the details that matter most to your family.

References & Resources

EveryPlace is a research directory. Facility information is compiled from public sources — Medicare.gov, state licensing portals, Google Places, and publicly available street-level imagery. Listings do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or advertisement, and we do not accept payment for placement. Families should verify all details directly with the facility and the original sources linked above before making any care decisions. See our Research Policy for our editorial standards, correction process, and image-removal policy.

Safer Alternatives Nearby

Based on current clinical data, we identified 6 nearby facilities within 10 miles that may offer a stronger care environment. We encourage families to compare options carefully.

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