Kern River Transitional Care
Below-average Medicare ratings — review the inspection history and ask the administrator about recent corrections before visiting.
based on 63 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.
- Low overall rating (1/5 stars)
- Low staffing rating (2/5 stars)
- Above-median deficiencies (29 vs median 13.0)
Bottom 25% in CA · Below recommended RN staffing · Above recommended total nurse staffing · Worst in PACS GROUP chain · $77,720 in fines
What this means for your family
This facility offers an impressive physical therapy program and a beautiful environment that is excellent for post-surgical rehab. However, you must be vigilant about nursing oversight, as there are recurring reports of unresponsive call lights and medication errors. We recommend frequent, unannounced visits to ensure your loved one's hygiene and medication needs are being met.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
63 reviews on Google“Kern River Transitional Care is frequently praised for its modern, beautiful facility and its highly effective physical therapy program that helps patients regain mobility. However, families should be extremely cautious regarding inconsistent nursing care, reports of medication errors, and significant communication gaps between staff and responsible parties.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Effective physical and occupational therapy
- Modern and clean facility appearance
- Compassionate rehabilitation staff
- High-quality dietary services
Concerns
- Inconsistent nursing responsiveness and call light delays (mentioned by 6 reviewers)
- Poor communication from administration and management (mentioned by 5 reviewers)
- Negligence regarding hygiene and patient care (mentioned by 3 reviewers)
- Inaccurate medication administration or logging (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution · 64 analyzed
How They Respond to Reviews
The owner uses highly templated, copy-paste responses for almost all negative reviews, often directing users to a phone number. While positive reviews are more personalized, the negative responses lack genuine empathy or specific resolution.
Questions for Your Tour
- 1We've heard wonderful things about the physical and occupational therapy teams here; how do you tailor those rehab programs to meet an individual's specific recovery goals?
- 2How does the nursing team manage call lights and ensure that residents receive timely responses during the night shifts?
- 3What specific protocols are in place to ensure medication administration is accurately logged and double-checked by the staff?
- 4Could you explain how the administration communicates important updates or changes in care to family members to ensure we are always on the same page?
- 5What kind of daily activities or social programs are available to keep residents engaged and connected with one another?
- 6In the event of a medical emergency or a sudden change in a resident's condition, what is the immediate process for notifying the family and coordinating care?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“When my wife and I arrived at Kern River, she was unable walk, eat, or even sleep. Thanks to their great PT program, after about 5-8 days we started seeing amazing results!”
“The nurses would deny her water stating the kitchen was closed. They were rude, never had time to adjust her position in</em> in bed, took hours to respond”
“They don't help give showers or allow showers regularly. They don't log medication accurately. They will say and log that they've given medication when they haven't.”
Staffing
Staffing Hours
per resident/day · Medicare 2026RN hours are below the national benchmark. RNs handle complex medical needs and medication, so ask about coverage during your visit.
Quality Measures
Quality Measures
Resident outcomes compared with national, state, and local averages · 17 measures
13
measures
3
measures
1
measures
Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse
Residents whose walking got worse
Residents needing more daily help over time
Residents on anti-anxiety or sleep medication
Residents on antipsychotic medication
Residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Short-stay residents vaccinated for the flu
Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia
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 serious recurring problems with families filing numerous complaints about abuse reporting failures, care planning issues, and nursing staff competency. Most concerning are repeated deficiencies in timely reporting suspected abuse and neglect to authorities, inadequate care planning, and poor nursing services quality that persist across multiple surveys. While all violations show correction dates, the pattern of similar issues returning suggests systemic problems that families should carefully investigate before considering placement.
Apr 29, 2026Complaint2
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Jul 28, 2025Complaint4
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.
May 16, 2025Complaint1
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
May 15, 2025Complaint2
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
Administration Deficiencies
Arrange for the provision of hospice services or assist the resident in transferring to a facility that will arrange for the provision of hospice services.
Apr 24, 2025Routine25
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Ensure nurse aides have the skills they need to care for residents, and give nurse aides education in dementia care and abuse prevention.
Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies
Provide emergency officials' contact information.
Smoke Deficiencies
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
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
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.
Administration Deficiencies
Hire a qualified full-time social worker in a facility with more than 120 beds.
Administration Deficiencies
Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Administration Deficiencies
Have the Quality Assessment and Assurance group have the required members and meet at least quarterly
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate foot care.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide routine and 24-hour emergency dental care for each resident.
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.
Administration Deficiencies
Inform resident or representatives choice to enter into binding arbitration agreement and right to refuse.
Smoke Deficiencies
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Feb 25, 2025Complaint2
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Federal Penalties
Fine
Dec 7, 2023
$77,720
Ownership & Operations
Who Operates This Facility
Kern River Transitional Care
for profit
Chain Affiliation
Pacs Group
280 facilities nationwide
Chain avg rating: 2.9/5 · Rank 259 of 260 (Worst)
Ownership & Management
Owners
Providence Group North LLC
Owner · Organization
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
63 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
Visit kernrivertc.com
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
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