LIFE BYVardellNursing Home
Report

TheVardellReport

River Oaks Care Center

Skilled nursing facility and nursing facility

1001 North Walnut
Steele, MO 63877

Report Date
Nov 1, 2026
Data Through
Oct 1, 2026
Report ID
VR-MO-265210-2611
← River Oaks Care Center, free profile

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The Vardell Report.River Oaks Care Center

The deeper story, beautifully organized. Available records, historical context, and questions worth asking.

Provider Category
Nursing home
Location
Steele, MO
Record Period
2023–2025
Source Documents
6
Read the report

This report is free. Vardell does not certify, grade or endorse; it shows what the record documents.

01

The Essentials

Summary

Across 4 inspections from May 2023 to August 2025, state surveyors documented 15 findings at River Oaks Care Center; 15 have a recorded correction; CMS lists 1 enforcement action in the window.

Inspections
4
2023–2025, standard and complaint
Findings
15
Deficiencies cited by state inspectors
Corrected
15
Of 15 findings, with a recorded correction date
Penalties
1
1 fine; payment not published

Findings by Year

  • Findings
  • Of which, actual harm (level G or above)
2023: 3 findings across 1 inspection320231 inspection2024: 7 findings across 2 inspections; of which, actual harm (level G or above): 2720242 inspections2025: 5 findings across 1 inspection520251 inspection2026: 0 findings across 0 inspections02026*0 inspections2023: 3 findings across 1 inspection320231 insp.2024: 7 findings across 2 inspections; of which, actual harm (level G or above): 2720242 insp.2025: 5 findings across 1 inspection520251 insp.2026: 0 findings across 0 inspections02026*0 insp.

* Partial year, through October 1, 2026.

Findings by year
YearInspectionsFindingsOf which, actual harm (level G or above)
2023130
2024272
2025150
2026000

What the Record Shows

  • 15 of 15 findings have a recorded correction date.
  • CMS lists 1 enforcement action in the window: 1 fine of $41,389, its payment not published.
  • 2 visits in this window included a complaint investigation. CMS publishes what a complaint investigation cited, not what the complaint alleged.
  • The latest standard inspection, August 8, 2025, recorded 5 findings (most serious: Level E).
02

Chronology

Inspection History

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. 2025

    Standard health inspection

    5 findings

    • F584Honor 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.Level ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Sep 22, 2025
    • F655Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admittedLevel DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Sep 22, 2025
    • F699Provide care or services that was trauma informed and/or culturally competent.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Sep 22, 2025
    • F759Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Sep 22, 2025
    • F883Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Sep 22, 2025

    Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)

  2. 2024

    Complaint investigation

    2 findings

    • F600Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.Level JImmediate jeopardyCorrected Dec 16, 2024
    • F610Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.Level JImmediate jeopardyCorrected Dec 16, 2024

    Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)

  3. 2024

    Standard health inspection

    5 findings

    The same visit included a complaint investigation.

    • F584Honor 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.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Oct 15, 2024
    • F689Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Oct 15, 2024
    • F693Ensure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Oct 15, 2024
    • F755Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Oct 15, 2024
    • F880Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Oct 15, 2024

    Enforcement Action

    Civil money penalty, $41,389 imposed November 20, 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 August 16, 2024, the nearest before the penalty date.

    Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)

  4. 2023

    Standard health inspection

    3 findings

    • F584Honor 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.Level ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Jun 15, 2023
    • F655Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admittedLevel DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Jun 15, 2023
    • F761Ensure 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.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Jun 15, 2023

    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.

03

Context

Patterns Worth Examining

A repeated citation can merit attention, but context and corrective action must be reviewed before drawing a conclusion.

  1. 1

    A Clean, Homelike Setting, Cited in Three Inspections

    Inspectors cited F584 in May 2023, August 2024 and August 2025. 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.

    23242425F584 across all 4 inspections, oldest to newest
  2. 2

    The First 48 Hours, Cited in Two Inspections

    Inspectors cited F655 in May 2023 and August 2025. This citation covers the baseline care plan for a new resident’s immediate needs, due within 48 hours of admission. 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.

    23242425F655 across all 4 inspections, oldest to newest
04

For Your Next Visit

Questions to Ask on Your Visit

Bring these to the tour. Each one comes from something in the record; the reason is under the question.

  1. 01

    What was done about the cleanliness citation, and how are rooms and shared spaces checked now?

    A Clean, Homelike Setting: cited in three inspections, most seriously at level E.

  2. 02

    What happens in the first 48 hours after admission, and who writes the first care plan?

    The First 48 Hours: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level D.

  3. 03

    How many nurses and aides are on each shift, including nights and weekends, for the unit we are considering?

    No staffing citation appears in this window. Staffing levels are published separately by CMS and are worth asking about directly.

  4. 04

    What led to the 2024 fine, and has it been paid?

    A $41,389 civil money penalty was imposed November 20, 2024. CMS publishes the fine, not whether it has been paid.

05

The Evidence

Sources and Coverage

Inspection results and penalties are published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from surveys conducted by the Missouri state survey agency.

  • Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)

    Missouri state survey agency

    Inspection May 4, 2023 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  • Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)

    Missouri state survey agency

    Inspection Aug 16, 2024 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  • Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)

    Missouri state survey agency

    Inspection Nov 20, 2024 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  • Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)

    Missouri state survey agency

    Inspection Aug 8, 2025 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  • Penalties, Provider Data Catalog

    Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

    Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Provider Information, Provider Data Catalog

    Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · 265210

    Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗

Coverage

Record windowMay 4, 2023 – October 1, 2026

  • CMS publishes about three inspection cycles; inspections before May 2023 are not in this release.
  • CMS refreshes these files monthly, after statements of deficiencies are processed, so an inspection from the last two months may not appear yet.

What This Report Cannot Tell You

Complaints not investigated onsite
Allegations screened out by the state before an onsite visit are not published.
Complaint allegations
CMS publishes the deficiencies a complaint survey cited, not the allegation itself.
Facility-reported incidents
Self-reported incidents appear only if they led to an inspection.
Follow-up visits
CMS's files list standard, complaint and infection control surveys, not revisits; a correction date is the one CMS records.
Fire safety inspections
Published by CMS separately and not included in this record yet.
Staffing levels and ownership history
Published by CMS separately and not included in this record.
Whether fines were paid
CMS publishes the fines imposed, not whether or when they were paid.

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.