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 Columbia Basin Hospital during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses experienced a delay in transfer to the ER after developing a fever. The resident's representatives reported concerns about the delay to nurse management, but the facility did not log or report the allegation of neglect to the State Hotline as required, despite being aware of the concerns and conducting an internal review.
The facility did not maintain a QAA committee that met quarterly and included the Infection Preventionist (IP) as required. The IP was unaware of their obligation to attend or present infection control data. The third quarter meeting was missed, and data was delayed by three months. The Nursing Services Manager acknowledged the oversight and the need for the IP's involvement.
The facility failed to maintain a sanitary kitchen environment, with observations revealing unclean air vents and dirty light fixtures over food preparation areas. Staff interviews indicated that the vents had not been cleaned for two months, and there was no scheduled cleaning routine in place.
The facility failed to obtain informed consent for psychotropic medications for three residents. A resident had their antianxiety medications discontinued without being informed, while two other residents were started on psychotropic medications without being educated or informed about the risks and benefits. Staff interviews confirmed that the facility did not adhere to its process of reviewing medications with residents or their representatives before administration.
The facility failed to assess and document the use of side rails as physical restraints for two residents, leading to a deficiency in care. One resident with dementia and other health issues was observed with side rails up without proper documentation or guidance in their care plan. Another resident with depression and heart issues was also observed with side rails in various positions without assessments or consents. Staff interviews confirmed the lack of formal documentation and care plan instructions, placing residents at risk for injury.
The facility failed to implement an effective Infection Prevention and Control Program for its LTC residents, lacking monthly surveillance and monitoring of infectious diseases. The IP, responsible for both the LTC unit and the hospital, did not identify infection trends specific to the LTC unit due to a lack of awareness and training. The Nursing Operations Manager confirmed the absence of specific reports and data for the LTC unit.
The facility failed to ensure the Infection Preventionist (IP) met the necessary educational qualifications for certification before assuming the role. The IP, responsible for both the hospital and LTC unit, had not completed required infection control training. Both the IP and Resident Manager were unaware of the certification requirements, risking inadequate oversight of infection control issues.
Failure to Timely Investigate and Report Allegation of Neglect
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to timely investigate and report an allegation of neglect involving a resident with severe cognitive impairment, dementia, aphasia, and major depressive disorder. The resident developed a fever in the early morning, and although the representative was notified and interventions were initiated, there was a five-hour delay between the initial assessment and the resident's transfer to the emergency room. The resident's representatives expressed concern about this delay to nurse management, which constituted an allegation of neglect according to state guidelines and facility policy. Despite these concerns being reported, the facility did not log an investigation regarding the allegation of neglect, nor did they report the incident to the State Hotline as required by both state regulations and their own policy. The Chief Nursing Officer and Director of Nursing acknowledged awareness of the concerns and conducted an internal review, but did not perceive the concerns as an allegation of neglect and did not report them, stating that reporting would only occur if the facility was found at fault after their investigation.
Failure to Include Infection Preventionist in QAA Meetings
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a Quality Assessment and Assurance (QAA) committee that met at least quarterly and included the Infection Preventionist (IP) as a required member. This deficiency was identified through interviews and record reviews, which revealed that the IP had not participated in or prepared reports for the QAA committee on infection control data. The IP was unaware of the requirement to attend the QAA meetings or present data. Additionally, the facility missed the third quarter QAA committee meeting, and the data from that quarter was combined with the fourth quarter meeting, resulting in a delay of three months. The Nursing Services Manager acknowledged that the IP had not been included in the QAA meetings over the past year and agreed that the IP's presence was necessary for reviewing and analyzing infection control data.
Failure to Maintain Sanitary Kitchen Environment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a sanitary environment in the kitchen, which placed residents at risk for cross-contamination and foodborne illnesses. During an observation, it was noted that the air vent in the kitchen, located over the food preparation areas, had accumulated fuzzy brown substances around the air filter vent grills. Multiple areas of the air vent's grill over the cook's area and the first entry door to the kitchen had dark brown fuzzy substances. Additionally, the overhead light fixture and plastic covering over the cook's area and food serve-out area were dirty with yellow-brown substances. Interviews with staff revealed that the kitchen vents had not been cleaned for a significant period. Staff M, the Environmental Services-Lead, acknowledged the vents were dirty and stated that the assigned custodian was responsible for cleaning them but was unsure of the cleaning schedule. Staff L, the Environmental Services Director, confirmed that the vents had not been cleaned for two months and that the cleaning of the kitchen vents and ceiling was not on a scheduled cleaning routine. Staff L also mentioned plans to replace the discolored lighting fixtures over the stove.
Failure to Obtain Informed Consent for Psychotropic Medications
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to obtain informed consent regarding the potential risks and benefits associated with the use of psychotropic medications for three residents. Resident 2, who was admitted with anxiety, depression, and PTSD, had their antianxiety medications discontinued without being informed or consulted. The attending provider discontinued the medications following a pharmacist's recommendation, but did not communicate with Resident 2 about the change or obtain their consent. The facility's process to notify residents of medication changes was not followed, as confirmed by interviews with staff. Resident 7, admitted with heart failure, depression, and anxiety, was started on antidepressant medications without being educated or informed about the medications by the facility staff. The resident did not sign any consents for the medications, and staff interviews revealed that the facility's process to review psychotropic medications with residents or their representatives before administration was not adhered to. Resident 11, who had dementia with behavioral disturbances, falls, and heart disease, was prescribed psychotropic medications without obtaining consents or reviewing the risks and benefits with the resident's representative. Staff interviews confirmed that the facility failed to follow its policy of ensuring residents and their representatives were informed of the benefits and side effects of psychoactive medications before administration.
Failure to Assess and Document Side Rail Use as Physical Restraints
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to properly assess and identify the use of side rails as physical restraints for two residents, leading to a deficiency in care. Resident 8, who was admitted with dementia, atrial fibrillation, and dysphagia, was observed with side rails in the up position without a documented assessment, consent, or physician's order justifying their use. The resident's care plan lacked guidance on the use of side rails, and staff interviews revealed inconsistent practices regarding when the rails should be up or down. Staff members indicated that the side rails were used to make the resident feel safe and prevent falls, but there was no formal documentation or care plan instructions to support this practice. Similarly, Resident 7, who was admitted with depression, anxiety, heart failure, and respiratory issues, was observed with side rails in various positions without any documented assessments, physician's orders, or consents. The resident was alert and oriented but had not been informed about the use of side rails by the staff. Interviews with staff confirmed the absence of assessments and care plans for the use of side rails, acknowledging the potential risk of restraint or injury. The facility's failure to follow its policy on physical restraints and to document the necessary assessments and consents placed both residents at risk for injury and compromised their quality of life.
Inadequate Infection Control Program in LTC Unit
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement an effective and individualized Infection Prevention and Control Program (IPC) for its long-term care (LTC) residents, which did not meet the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services federal regulatory requirements. This deficiency was identified through interviews and record reviews, revealing that the facility did not conduct monthly surveillance or monitor and track infectious diseases specific to the LTC unit. The designated Infection Preventionist (IP), Staff Q, was responsible for both the LTC unit and the hospital but did not identify infection trends or rates specific to the LTC unit. Staff Q admitted to being unaware of the additional requirements for LTC and lacked a process for surveillance reports or identifying data, including infection rates. Furthermore, Staff G, the Nursing Operations Manager, acknowledged that Staff Q was new to the IP role and had not received adequate training after the previous IP left, resulting in the absence of specific reports and data for the LTC unit.
Inadequate Infection Preventionist Certification
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that the designated Infection Preventionist (IP) responsible for the Infection Control Program met the necessary educational qualifications for certification before assuming the role. During an interview, the IP, identified as Staff Q, admitted to being hired for both the hospital and the long-term care unit without completing the required infection control training for certification. Staff Q was unaware of the need for certification and had not undertaken any training specific to long-term care. Additionally, Staff B, the Resident Manager, was also unaware of the specific training requirements for the IP's certification, acknowledging the importance of such training. This oversight placed residents at risk due to inadequate oversight of infection control issues specific to long-term care.
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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 Ephrata
How nearby facilities compare on the same public inspection record.
| Facility | Distance | Overall rating | Citations, 12 mo | Serious (J–L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mckay Healthcare & Rehab Ctr | 5.6 mi | — | 1 | 0 |
| Lake Ridge Center | 18.4 mi | — | 3 | 0 |
| Columbia Crest Center | 19 mi | — | 30 | 0 |
| Colonial Vista Post-acute & Rehab Center | 36.7 mi | — | 0 | 0 |
| Regency Wenatchee Rehabiliation & Nursing Center | 37.5 mi | — | 3 | 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.