Federal inspection record · CMS data as of October 1, 2026
Ridgewood Specialty Care
1977 Albia Road, Ottumwa, IA · (641) 683-3111
- Certified beds
- 60
- Residents per day
- 53
- Ownership
- Non-Profit
- Chain
- Care Initiatives
- Medicare / Medicaid
- Medicare + Medicaid
- Certified since
- July 1, 1994
1
How this home got 3 stars
The overall rating isn't an average. CMS starts from the inspection rating and nudges it at most two steps. Here is the arithmetic for this home, using CMS's own rules.
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Health inspections
★★★★★starting point
Everything starts from what state inspectors found on site. This is a ranking against other homes in Iowa.
-
Staffing
★★★★★no change
Only a 5-star staffing rating adds a star, and only a 1-star rating removes one. Ratings of 2 to 4 change nothing.
-
Quality measures
★★★★★no change
Same rule: 5 stars adds one, 1 star takes one away. These measures are mostly reported by the home itself.
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Overall
★★★★★3 of 5
Matches the rating CMS publishes on Care Compare.
2
Where it sits among Iowa homes
Ridgewood Specialty Care carries 35.5 inspection points. That is fewer than 48% of Iowa's 385 rated homes.
Inspectors' citations earn points by how serious and how widespread they were (the grid below). CMS then ranks every home in Iowa: the 10% with the fewest points get 5 stars, the 20% with the most get 1 star, and the middle 70% split evenly into 2, 3 and 4.
- 5★ 0–7 pts
- 4★ 7–21 pts
- 3★ 21–41 pts
- 2★ 41–86.5 pts
- 1★ over 86.5 pts
Bars show every rated home in Iowa by its weighted inspection score. CMS recalibrates the cut points monthly but holds a home's rating until its own score changes, so a home can sit just outside today's band.
3
What inspectors found
18 health citations on record since 2023. Each one gets a letter: the row says how badly residents were affected, the column how many.
Immediate jeopardyResidents at risk of serious injury or death
Actual harmA resident was hurt
Potential for harmNo one was hurt, but could have been
Minimal harmPaperwork-level problems
Read the rows, not the total. Most citations nationwide are a D: one problem, nobody hurt. Rows G–I mean a resident was harmed; J–L mean inspectors found residents in immediate danger of serious injury or death.
Small numbers in each cell are the inspection points CMS assigns per citation. Those points are what the state curve above ranks.
Harm and immediate-jeopardy citations (1)
-
J
Ensure each resident receives and the facility provides food prepared in a form designed to meet individual needs.
Everything else, by area of care
Quality of Life and Care5D
- D
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
- D
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
- D
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
- D
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
- D
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Nutrition and Dietary4E
- D
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.
- E
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.
- E
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
- D
Ensure therapeutic diets are prescribed by the attending physician and may be delegated to a registered or licensed dietitian, to the extent allowed by State law.
Resident Rights3D
- D
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
- D
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
- D
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 Assessment and Care Planning2D
- D
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
- D
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Administration1D
- D
Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
Infection Control1D
- D
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Pharmacy Service1D
- D
Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
Inspection history
2025-12-22
3 health deficiencies · 2 fire-safety deficiencies
Top issue: Administration (1 deficiency)
2024-10-31
10 health deficiencies · 3 fire-safety deficiencies
Top issue: Nutrition and Dietary (3 deficiencies)
2023-10-05
5 health deficiencies · 8 fire-safety deficiencies
Top issue: Quality of Life and Care (2 deficiencies)
4
Nursing time per resident, per day
Each resident here gets about 3 h 23 min of nursing staff time a day, 38 min of it from a registered nurse.
This home
3 h 23 min
Iowa average
3 h 52 min
U.S. average
3 h 54 min
- Registered nurse
- Licensed practical nurse
- Nurse aide
Turnover: 45% of nursing staff and 30% of registered nurses left in the past year.
Reported hours from payroll data the home submits to CMS, divided by its daily resident count. Not adjusted for how sick residents are.
5
Fines and payment denials
$8,999 in federal fines on record over the past three years.
| Date | Penalty | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-10-31 | Fine | $8,999 |
6
Resident outcomes
Quality measures compared with state and national averages. Most come from assessments the home itself reports.
| Measure | This home | State | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine3.8 pts better | 98.0% | 94.2% | 93.7% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine0.4 pts better | 96.2% | 95.8% | 95.3% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury1.4 pts better | 2.5% | 3.9% | 3.2% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms4.2 pts better | 0.0% | 4.2% | 13.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who lose too much weight3.1 pts worse | 7.5% | 4.4% | 5.1% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antianxiety or hypnotic medication12.4 pts better | 8.6% | 21.0% | 19.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication7.4 pts better | 12.4% | 19.8% | 15.4% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who were physically restrained1.8 pts worse | 2.0% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened3.7 pts better | 11.5% | 15.2% | 12.7% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased6.3 pts better | 10.3% | 16.6% | 13.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder1.4 pts better | 0.0% | 1.4% | 0.7% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection1.9 pts better | 0.5% | 2.4% | 1.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with new or worsened bowel or bladder incontinence2.2 pts better | 22.8% | 25.0% | 18.3% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers0.3 pts worse | 4.4% | 4.1% | 4.5% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine3.4 pts worse | 80.6% | 84.0% | 82.3% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit8.7 pts better | 4.3% | 13.0% | 11.8% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication2.2 pts worse | 4.3% | 2.1% | 1.5% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine14.2 pts better | 88.6% | 74.4% | 80.1% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission7.1 pts worse | 27.8% | 20.7% | 23.4% |
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Who owns and runs it
24 owners and managers reported to CMS. The last column counts how many nursing homes each one is tied to.
Show ownership list
| Name | Role | Share | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Care Initiatives | 5% Or Greater Direct Ownership Interest · Organization | 100% | 43 facilities |
| Beal, Michael | Corporate Director · Individual | 0% | 43 facilities |
| Beal, Michael | Corporate Officer · Individual | 0% | 43 facilities |
| Bowen, Lane | Corporate Director · Individual | 0% | 44 facilities |
| Carothers, Mary Jane | Corporate Director · Individual | 0% | 43 facilities |
| Childs, Kevin | Corporate Director · Individual | 0% | 43 facilities |
| Computershare Corporate Trust Company, Na | 5% Or Greater Mortgage Interest · Organization | 0% | 59 facilities |
| Computershare Corporate Trust Company, Na | Adp Of The SNF · Organization | 0% | 59 facilities |
| Corless, Peter | Corporate Director · Individual | 0% | 43 facilities |
| Dixon, David | Corporate Officer · Individual | 0% | 44 facilities |
| Drake, Emily | Corporate Officer · Individual | 0% | 43 facilities |
| Gilyard, Tanya | Corporate Officer · Individual | 0% | 42 facilities |
| Gorman, Valeria | Operational/Managerial Control · Individual | 0% | 1 facilities |
| Gorman, Valeria | Adp Of The SNF · Individual | 0% | 1 facilities |
| Krein, Keith | Corporate Director · Individual | 0% | 43 facilities |
| Kuhn, Jeramy | Corporate Officer · Individual | 0% | 43 facilities |
| Mahler, Carla | Operational/Managerial Control · Individual | 0% | 13 facilities |
| Mcdyer, Jessica | Corporate Officer · Individual | 0% | 43 facilities |
| Rust, Elizabeth | Corporate Director · Individual | 0% | 43 facilities |
| Sturm, Denise | Corporate Director · Individual | 0% | 43 facilities |
| Upmeyer, Linda | Corporate Director · Individual | 0% | 43 facilities |
| Volm, Johanna | Corporate Officer · Individual | 0% | 29 facilities |
| Whyms, Brian | Operational/Managerial Control · Individual | 0% | 11 facilities |
| Whyms, Brian | Adp Of The SNF · Individual | 0% | 11 facilities |
·
Fire safety
13 life-safety citations (sprinklers, exits, alarms). These don't count toward the star rating.
Smoke4F
- F
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
- E
Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.
- E
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- E
Ensure smoke barriers are constructed to a 1 hour fire resistance rating.
Emergency Preparedness2F
- F
Conduct testing and exercise requirements.
- F
Conduct testing and exercise requirements.
Construction2E
- E
Use approved construction type or materials.
- D
Use approved construction type or materials.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems2F
- F
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
- F
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
Services2D
- D
Ensure heating and ventilation systems that have been properly installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- D
Have properly installed electrical wiring and gas equipment.
Egress1E
- E
Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.
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Other homes nearby
-
Good Samaritan - Ottumwa
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★★★★★- Worst citation, 3 yrs
- G
- Nursing / resident / day
- 3 h 40 min
- Fines
- $35,968
-
Accura Healthcare of Ottumwa
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★★★★★- Worst citation, 3 yrs
- G
- Nursing / resident / day
- 3 h 53 min
- Fines
- $0
-
Bloomfield Care Center
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★★★★★- Worst citation, 3 yrs
- G
- Nursing / resident / day
- 3 h 49 min
- Fines
- $0