
Report
TheVardellReport
Accura Healthcare of South Des Moines
Skilled nursing facility and nursing facility
4911 SW 19th Street
Des Moines, IA 50315

TheVardellReport
Skilled nursing facility and nursing facility
4911 SW 19th Street
Des Moines, IA 50315
Life by Vardell Presents
The deeper story, beautifully organized. Available records, historical context, and questions worth asking.
This report is free. Vardell does not certify, grade or endorse; it shows what the record documents.
The Essentials
Across 10 inspections from November 2023 to September 2025, state surveyors documented 67 findings at Accura Healthcare of South Des Moines; 67 have a recorded correction; CMS lists 4 enforcement actions in the window.
* Partial year, through October 1, 2026.
| Year | Inspections | Findings | Of which, actual harm (level G or above) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 | 30 | 1 |
| 2024 | 5 | 29 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 | 8 | 0 |
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Chronology
Every inspection in the record window, newest first. A finding is a deficiency an inspector cited. CMS publishes what a complaint investigation cited, not what the complaint alleged.
1 finding
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
3 findings
The same visit included a complaint investigation.
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
4 findings
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
11 findings
The same visit included a complaint investigation.
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
2 findings
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
5 findings
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
3 findings
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
8 findings
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
3 findings
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
27 findings
The same visit included a complaint investigation.
Enforcement Action
Civil money penalty, $21,957 imposed November 2, 2023. CMS publishes the fine, not whether it has been paid. CMS does not tie a penalty to a survey; listed with the standard health inspection of November 2, 2023, the nearest before the penalty date.
Enforcement Action
Denial of payment imposed November 2, 2023. Status: Closed, February 16, 2024. CMS does not tie a penalty to a survey; listed with the standard health inspection of November 2, 2023, the nearest before the penalty date.
Enforcement Action
Civil money penalty, $30,675 imposed April 25, 2024. CMS publishes the fine, not whether it has been paid. CMS does not tie a penalty to a survey; listed with the standard health inspection of November 2, 2023, the nearest before the penalty date.
Enforcement Action
Denial of payment imposed April 25, 2024. Status: Closed, June 23, 2024. CMS does not tie a penalty to a survey; listed with the standard health inspection of November 2, 2023, the nearest before the penalty date.
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
Severity levels follow the CMS scope and severity grid. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy.
Context
A repeated citation can merit attention, but context and corrective action must be reviewed before drawing a conclusion.
Inspectors cited F725 in November 2023, December 2023, January 2024, February 2024 and April 2024. This citation covers whether there are enough nurses and aides to meet residents’ needs, with a licensed nurse in charge on each shift. None rose above level F (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F600 in December 2023, April 2024, June 2024 and February 2025. This citation covers whether residents are protected from abuse and neglect by anyone. The most serious of these was recorded at level K (immediate jeopardy). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F684 in November 2023, January 2024, August 2024 and July 2025. This citation covers whether residents receive the treatment their orders, preferences and goals call for. None rose above level D (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F550 in November 2023, February 2024 and August 2024. This citation covers residents’ right to dignity, to make their own choices and to communicate. None rose above level E (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F657 in November 2023, January 2024 and February 2025. This citation covers whether care plans are written on time and revised by a team that includes the resident’s caregivers. None rose above level D (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F677 in November 2023, January 2024 and April 2024. This citation covers help with bathing, dressing, eating and toileting for residents who cannot manage alone. None rose above level E (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F689 in December 2023, June 2024 and August 2024. This citation covers whether residents are protected from accident hazards and supervised closely enough to prevent accidents, including falls. The most serious of these was recorded at level G (actual harm). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F880 in November 2023, August 2024 and July 2025. This citation covers hand hygiene, isolation practice and the home’s infection-prevention program. None rose above level E (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F568 in November 2023 and January 2024. The agency describes it this way: Properly hold, secure, and manage each resident's personal money which is deposited with the nursing home. None rose above level D (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F584 in November 2023 and August 2024. This citation covers whether rooms and shared spaces are kept safe, clean, comfortable and homelike. None rose above level E (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F607 in November 2023 and January 2024. The agency describes it this way: Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft. None rose above level E (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F625 in November 2023 and August 2024. The agency describes it this way: Notify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave. None rose above level D (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F656 in November 2023 and January 2024. This citation covers whether each resident has a written care plan that meets their needs, with goals that can be measured. None rose above level E (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F658 in April 2024 and February 2025. This citation covers whether the home’s services meet professional standards of quality. None rose above level D (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F690 in November 2023 and August 2024. This citation covers continence care, catheter care and preventing urinary tract infections. None rose above level D (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F759 in November 2023 and August 2024. This citation covers whether medication errors stayed under 5 percent when inspectors watched medications being given. None rose above level D (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F760 in November 2023 and August 2024. This citation covers whether residents are free from significant medication errors. None rose above level D (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
For Your Next Visit
Bring these to the tour. Each one comes from something in the record; the reason is under the question.
How many nurses and aides are on each shift, including nights and weekends, for the unit we are considering?
Nursing Staff Levels: cited in five inspections, most seriously at level F.
What happened after the abuse or neglect citation, and what changed in training or supervision?
Protection From Abuse and Neglect: cited in four inspections, most seriously at level K.
How do nurses make sure a doctor’s orders are carried out, and how are families told when something is missed?
Quality of Care: cited in four inspections, most seriously at level D.
How do staff learn each resident’s preferences, and how is a complaint about dignity handled?
Dignity and Resident Rights: cited in three inspections, most seriously at level E.
How often are care plans revised, and who takes part in the review?
Care Plan Timing and Review: cited in three inspections, most seriously at level D.
How long do residents usually wait for help with bathing, dressing or the bathroom, and how is that tracked?
Help With Daily Living: cited in three inspections, most seriously at level E.
What changed in fall prevention and supervision after the last citation, and how do you check that it is still working?
Accident Hazards and Supervision: cited in three inspections, most seriously at level G.
Who leads infection control here, and how often are hand-hygiene and isolation practices audited?
Infection Control: cited in three inspections, most seriously at level E.
What changed after F568 was cited, and how do you check it now?
Citation F568: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level D.
What was done about the cleanliness citation, and how are rooms and shared spaces checked now?
A Clean, Homelike Setting: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level E.
What changed after F607 was cited, and how do you check it now?
Citation F607: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level E.
What changed after F625 was cited, and how do you check it now?
Citation F625: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level D.
How is a care plan written and reviewed here, and how do families take part in it?
Care Plans: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level E.
How do you check that nurses and aides follow professional standards, and what happens when they do not?
Professional Standards: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level D.
How is continence care scheduled, and how do you prevent urinary infections?
Continence and Catheter Care: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level D.
How are medication passes checked, and what happens when an error is found?
Medication Error Rate: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level D.
What happened after the medication error citation, and how are high-risk drugs double-checked?
Significant Medication Errors: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level D.
What led to the 2024 fine, and has it been paid?
A $30,675 civil money penalty was imposed April 25, 2024. CMS publishes the fine, not whether it has been paid. The record holds four enforcement actions in the window.
The Evidence
Inspection results and penalties are published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from surveys conducted by the Iowa state survey agency.
Iowa state survey agency
Inspection Nov 2, 2023 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Iowa state survey agency
Inspection Dec 21, 2023 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Iowa state survey agency
Inspection Jan 25, 2024 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Iowa state survey agency
Inspection Feb 29, 2024 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Iowa state survey agency
Inspection Apr 25, 2024 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Iowa state survey agency
Inspection Jun 13, 2024 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Iowa state survey agency
Inspection Aug 22, 2024 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Iowa state survey agency
Inspection Feb 17, 2025 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Iowa state survey agency
Inspection Jul 24, 2025 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Iowa state survey agency
Inspection Sep 18, 2025 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · 165273
Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Record windowNovember 2, 2023 – October 1, 2026
Historical coverage varies by agency and location. Missing records do not mean that no complaint or violation occurred.
Data architecture: Cierto supplies the source-backed machine-readable bundle. Life by Vardell independently creates the narrative, design, and consumer report.