Avera Prince of Peace: Documentation Failures - SD
The admission agreement addendum, in use as of 2024, contained a clause that read: "If we determine that you can be discharged from the Unit, both you and the Resident Representative consent to discharge from the Facility Unit and agree to fully cooperate with the Facility discharge planning staff in conjunction with your discharge."
Consent to discharge. Signed on the way in.
Federal inspectors flagged the language during a November 2025 complaint inspection, citing it as a violation. The problem was not paperwork technicality. A resident's right to appeal a discharge is among the most consequential protections in long-term care, giving people the ability to challenge a facility's decision to remove them before they have somewhere safe to go or before they believe they are ready.
The facility's own revised transfer and discharge policy, updated in June 2024, told a different story than the admission agreement. That internal policy described the facility's obligation to inform residents of an impending discharge and their right to appeal it, to provide at least 30 days' notice, and to send a copy of that notice simultaneously to the state Long Term Care Ombudsman. The policy also required the facility to help residents obtain, complete, and submit an appeal form if they asked.
The admission agreement residents signed said none of that. It said they had already agreed.
Inspectors rated the violation as causing minimal harm or potential for actual harm, and noted it affected few residents. What the inspection record does not say is how many people signed that addendum, moved through rehabilitation, and were discharged without knowing they could have pushed back.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Avera Prince of Peace from 2025-11-06 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 4, 2026 · Our methodology
AVERA PRINCE OF PEACE in SIOUX FALLS, SD was cited for violations during a health inspection on November 6, 2025.
Federal inspectors flagged the language during a November 2025 complaint inspection, citing it as a violation.
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.