Polaris Rehab: Unnecessary Drug Harm Found - WY
Nobody at the facility could explain why.
Federal inspectors cited Polaris on October 24 for causing actual harm to the resident through a combination of three drugs — valproic acid, olanzapine, and melatonin — each of which increases sedation and drowsiness. Inspectors noted that the combination required physician monitoring. There was no documentation in the nurses' progress notes for July 2025 showing when the decline began or what triggered it.
An RN interviewed on October 21 said the resident had been mobile on admission but told inspectors she did not know what had caused the drop from independent to fully dependent. The resident had been so impaired that staff repositioned them every hour to prevent bedsores.
A CNA interviewed the following day filled in part of the picture: the resident had been ambulatory on arrival, developed aggressive behaviors, then suffered seizures, then declined sharply. The seizures themselves appear connected to what came next. The resident's son approached nursing staff in August and asked that the valproic acid be stopped. A nurse documented educating him about seizure risk and recording that he understood and accepted that risk. He asked for Keppra as a substitute. The nurse notified the nurse practitioner and waited for orders.
After the resident was taken off valproic acid, the RN told inspectors, the resident improved and was able to speak in complete sentences again.
When inspectors sat down with the Director of Nursing and the Nursing Home Administrator on October 24, both said they had not been at the facility in July. Neither could say what had happened with the medications or the resident during that period. Both acknowledged they had identified a need to provide better quality of care.
The resident who had once walked in on their own had spent weeks unable to sit upright long enough for staff to take them anywhere.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Polaris Rehabilitation and Care Center from 2025-10-24 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
Data source: Official federal inspection data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Editorial process: AI-synthesized regulatory data, reviewed for accuracy by our editorial team.
Professional review: All content reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Last verified: August 5, 2026 · Our methodology
Polaris Rehabilitation and Care Center in Cheyenne, WY was cited for violations during a health inspection on October 24, 2025.
Nobody at the facility could explain why.
Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the full report below for specific details and facility response.