Federal Nursing-Home Survey Record
LA SIERRA CARE CENTER
Does LA SIERRA CARE CENTER have a federal violation or abuse history?
According to the public federal record on file with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), LA SIERRA CARE CENTER (CCN 055271), in MERCED, CA, has federal inspection findings on its record.
In its current inspection cycle, CMS cited the facility for 12 deficiencies; the most serious carries scope/severity E on CMS's A–L scale — CMS's "potential for harm" tier, below actual harm. The most recent federal survey on file is dated 2026-01-23. Citations from earlier inspection cycles appear in the dated timeline below as historical findings, not current ones. This page restates the federal record as published by CMS and draws no conclusion of its own. Federal nursing-home surveys are conducted on a recurring cycle by state survey agencies acting on CMS's behalf, and the figures on this page are compiled from CMS's published provider data, as on file with CMS; the federal record may understate what actually occurred, and inspection findings are point-in-time survey results, not a determination that any specific resident was harmed.
The Federal Record
The most recent federal inspection on file records no actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy citations for this facility.
Below is this facility's federal survey record as on file with CMS.
Scope & Severity — current cycle
Overall CMS star rating: this facility vs the CMS-published state average
This facility: 3 · CMS state average: 3.2
Deficiency timeline — full federal history
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Employ sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician.
Ensure each resident receives and the facility provides food that accommodates resident allergies, intolerances, and preferences, as well as appealing options.
Provide rooms that are at least 80 square feet per resident in multiple rooms and 100 square feet for single resident rooms.
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
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.
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Ensure 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.
Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
26 citations from earlier inspection cycles — historical, not current (expand)
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Provide each resident with a nourishing, palatable, well-balanced diet that meets his or her daily nutritional and special dietary needs.
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
Provide rooms that are at least 80 square feet per resident in multiple rooms and 100 square feet for single resident rooms.
Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Post nurse staffing information every day.
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Have the Quality Assessment and Assurance group have the required members and meet at least quarterly
Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
Honor the resident's right to organize and participate in resident/family groups in the facility.
Provide rooms that are at least 80 square feet per resident in multiple rooms and 100 square feet for single resident rooms.
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Ensure 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.
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Provide at least one room set aside to use as a resident dining room and for activities, that is a good size, with good lighting, air flow and furniture.
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
Document what happened
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