Not rated by CMS — ratings are suppressed for new or low-volume facilities.
Past the typical resurvey interval — a standard survey could occur at any time
Estimate from public CMS data, current as of June 2026. Survey timing is at the state agency's discretion.
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Sarcoxie Health Care Center during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
The facility did not maintain a functional call light system, resulting in only one working pager being available and kept at the nurses' station, with staff relying on a computer to check for resident calls. Multiple pagers were broken or missing parts, and the system failed to alert staff throughout the building as required by policy and regulatory exceptions. This deficiency left residents without a reliable means to notify staff for assistance in bathrooms and bathing areas.
The facility did not complete required criminal background checks for several newly hired LPNs before allowing them to work, despite having policies mandating such checks. Documentation showed that other required verifications, such as the NA Registry, EDL, and Nurse License Verification Report, were completed only after the staff had already started working. Leadership interviews revealed confusion about the process and a lack of clarity regarding responsibility for ensuring background checks were completed.
The facility did not consistently provide or document 24-hour licensed nurse coverage, resulting in periods with no nurse present and requiring staff, including the DON and an LPN, to work extended shifts—sometimes up to 26 hours—due to lack of available nursing staff. Staff interviews confirmed these extended hours, and incomplete documentation of PRN staff hours further contributed to the deficiency.
The facility did not ensure that several newly hired LPNs completed the required two-step TB skin test prior to starting work, as mandated by both facility policy and state regulations. Leadership interviews confirmed that TB testing and documentation were not completed before these staff began working, and verification from other facilities was not obtained.
The facility did not ensure RN coverage for at least eight consecutive hours per day, seven days a week, as required. Review of schedules and staff interviews confirmed multiple days without any RN on duty, with the DON being the only RN and no backup plan in place during absences. Staff awareness of RN coverage was inconsistent, and the deficiency was linked to staffing shortages and changes in the DON position.
The facility did not promptly report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft, nor did it communicate the results of its investigation to the proper authorities as required.
The facility failed to manage resident funds properly by not transferring amounts over $100 into interest-bearing accounts, affecting several residents. Additionally, the facility did not maintain a petty cash fund, causing delays in residents receiving requested cash. The Administrator admitted to not transferring funds due to being busy, and residents had to wait for staff to cash checks at the bank.
Failure to Maintain Functional Call Light System for Resident Notification
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide residents with an approved and functional call light system in resident bathrooms and bathing areas. Observations revealed that the call light system did not have a process in place to notify staff of sounding call lights when notifications could not be heard in the hallways, and staff were not provided with pagers for notification. Only one functional pager was available, which was kept at the nurses' station, and several pagers were either broken or missing battery covers. The light above the resident's door did not illuminate when the call light was activated, and the pager could not be heard at the end of the hall. Staff interviews confirmed that they relied on checking the computer at the nurses' station to see if a resident had pressed their call light, as the pager system was unreliable and difficult to use. The facility's policy required that call lights directly relay to a staff member or a centralized location to ensure an appropriate response, and that all staff be educated on the proper use of the system. However, staff reported that only one pager had worked for at least a month, and it was not consistently carried by staff. The exception previously granted by the Department of Health and Senior Services was contingent on all direct care staff carrying and using wireless nurse call pagers at all times, a condition that was not met. The facility census was 33, and the lack of a reliable call light notification system meant that staff were not always aware when residents required assistance.
Failure to Complete Required Background Checks for New Staff
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement its abuse and neglect prevention policies by not completing required pre-employment background checks for four sampled staff members, including LPNs. Specifically, the facility did not have documentation of criminal background checks being requested or received for these staff, despite their employment and active work on the floor. While checks of the Nurse Aide (NA) Registry, Employee Disqualification List (EDL), and Nurse License Verification Report were documented as completed several days after the staff began working, the criminal background checks were missing from all four personnel records reviewed. Interviews with facility leadership revealed confusion and lack of clarity regarding the background check process. The Director of Nursing (DON) was unsure of the specific checks included, and the Business Office Manager (BOM) stated that background checks were now handled by the corporate office, which had recently experienced staffing changes and lacked proper access to complete the checks. Prior to the corporate transition, background checks were conducted in-house and included all required verifications. The Administrator also indicated unfamiliarity with the timing and process for completing all necessary checks. As a result, the facility did not follow its own policy or regulatory requirements for background investigations prior to allowing staff to work.
Failure to Maintain 24-Hour Licensed Nurse Coverage
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain sufficient nursing staff coverage at all times, as evidenced by gaps in nurse scheduling and documentation. Review of nursing schedules and time sheets over several days showed multiple periods where no licensed nurse was scheduled or documented as present, including overnight and evening hours. On several occasions, there was no nurse coverage for several hours, and in one instance, a nurse worked a 26-hour shift due to lack of available staff. The Director of Nursing (DON) and other salaried staff often worked extended hours to cover these gaps, but did not consistently document their additional hours. PRN staff hours were also not reliably recorded, as they were not included in the time clock system and handwritten records were incomplete or missing. Interviews with staff confirmed that nurses were working extended shifts, sometimes up to 24 hours, because there was no one to relieve them. The Business Office Manager acknowledged difficulties in tracking PRN staff hours and stated that some records could not be located. The Administrator expressed concern about the impact of long hours on staff performance but stated that the corporation would not provide agency staff. The facility census at the time was 39 residents, and the facility's own policy required 24-hour licensed nurse coverage, which was not consistently met according to the documentation reviewed.
Failure to Complete Required TB Screening for New Staff
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective infection prevention and control program by not ensuring that all new staff were screened for tuberculosis (TB) prior to employment, as required by both facility policy and state regulations. Specifically, four newly hired LPNs did not have documentation of completion of the required two-step TB skin test in their personnel records. The facility's policy and state regulation mandate that all new employees receive a two-step PPD test within one month prior to starting employment, and that documentation of TB status be maintained for all staff. However, review of the records showed that these requirements were not met for the identified staff members. Interviews with facility leadership, including the DON, BOM, and Administrator, confirmed that TB testing was not completed prior to the staff starting work, and that documentation from other facilities where the staff may have worked was not obtained. The DON acknowledged that TB testing should be completed before staff begin working, and the BOM stated that TB testing had not been completed for new as-needed staff. The Administrator also confirmed that TB testing should be done before staff start and can be read on the day they begin work, but this was not followed for the new hires.
Failure to Provide Required RN Coverage
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide the services of a registered nurse (RN) for at least eight consecutive hours per day, seven days per week, as required by their own policy and federal regulations. Review of nurse schedules over a nearly three-week period revealed multiple days with no RN coverage on any shift. Staff interviews showed inconsistent awareness of RN coverage, with some staff believing an RN was present daily, while others, including an LPN and the DON, confirmed that there were days without any RN on duty. The DON was identified as the only RN on staff, and both the DON and Administrator acknowledged that there were several days without RN coverage, particularly during a change in DON. The facility census at the time was 39 residents, and the DON was also the only RN available, with no clear plan for coverage when the DON was unavailable. Staff were sometimes not informed when there was no RN on duty. The lack of RN coverage was confirmed for specific dates, and the issue was attributed to staffing shortages and transitions in the DON position. The report does not mention any specific residents affected or detail any immediate clinical consequences resulting from the lack of RN coverage.
Failure to Timely Report Suspected Abuse, Neglect, or Theft
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and did not report the results of the investigation to the proper authorities. This deficiency was identified based on the facility's lack of prompt action in notifying the appropriate agencies when an incident of suspected abuse, neglect, or theft occurred. The report indicates that the required notifications and investigation results were not communicated as mandated.
Failure to Manage Resident Funds and Maintain Petty Cash
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to properly manage the financial affairs of several residents, violating their fiduciary responsibilities. Specifically, the facility did not transfer resident funds exceeding $100 into interest-bearing accounts, as required by their policy. This oversight affected four residents, with balances ranging from $100.70 to $900.00 remaining in non-interest-bearing checking accounts. The facility administrator admitted to not transferring these funds due to being busy, resulting in missed interest accrual for the residents. Additionally, the facility did not maintain a petty cash fund to ensure residents could access small amounts of cash on the same day as requested. Three residents expressed dissatisfaction with the delay in receiving their funds, which were only accessible after the Social Service Director or Administrator went to the bank to cash checks. This process often resulted in residents receiving their requested funds later than desired, sometimes the following day if requests were made after 3:00 P.M. The facility's policy required maintaining a petty cash fund to honor resident requests for cash, but this was not adhered to. The Administrator confirmed that the facility did not keep petty cash on hand, and residents had to wait for staff to cash checks at the bank. This lack of immediate access to funds was a significant inconvenience for the residents, as they had delegated the facility to manage their financial transactions.
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Resident with a documented fall history left unattended on the patio; found on the ground with a hip fracture.
Walk-in cooler logs missing for 12 days; expired supplements in the medication room fridge.
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Nursing homes near Sarcoxie
How nearby facilities compare on the same public inspection record.
| Facility | Distance | Overall rating | Citations, 12 mo | Serious (J–L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspire Senior Living Carthage | 10.9 mi | — | 5 | 0 |
| St Luke's Nursing And Rehabilitation | 11 mi | — | 0 | 0 |
| Granby House | 12.7 mi | — | 0 | 0 |
| Lacoba Homes Inc | 14.6 mi | — | 2 | 0 |
| Lawrence County Manor | 16.6 mi | — | 4 | 0 |
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Trusted data, never guesswork. Every citation, penalty, rating and Plan of Correction on this page is sourced from public CMS records (latest release August 2026) and official state health department websites.