Life Care Center of Cheyenne: PASARR Screening Gaps - WY
The resident at Life Care Center of Cheyenne had undergone major surgeries before admission, including placement of nephrostomy tubes and a colostomy. Medical records showed diagnoses of cancer, frequent pain, rheumatoid arthritis and muscle weakness.
On September 24, registered nurse RN #1 prepared supplies for the resident's dressing change following a scheduled shower with occupational therapy. With help from a nurse practitioner and certified nursing assistant, RN #1 began changing the resident's colostomy bag and wafer, plus nephrostomy tube dressings.
Federal inspectors watched as staff rolled the cognitively intact resident from side to side. The resident verbalized back pain and discomfort from adhesive sites where the wafer and dressings attached to skin.
RN #1 did not assess or acknowledge the resident's pain complaints before or during the procedure.
Forty minutes later, at 3:10 PM, RN #1 finally assessed the resident's pain level. The resident rated it 8 to 9 out of 10. RN #1 administered Tylenol at the resident's request twelve minutes after that assessment.
The resident's last dose of oxycodone had been given that morning at 7 AM for a pain rating of 7 out of 10. Acetaminophen was last given the previous evening.
When inspectors interviewed RN #1 later that afternoon, the nurse revealed residents were pre-medicated for pain before dressing changes "on occasion." The RN made a startling admission about the facility's approach to resident suffering.
"The resident's pain and anxiety is so bad at times that we will just push through it," RN #1 told inspectors.
The director of nursing confirmed that residents with known pain during dressing changes were supposed to be pre-medicated if it fell within physician ordering timeframes. Physician orders showed 500 mg of acetaminophen every 6 hours as needed, ordered September 11. Oxycodone 5 mg every 6 hours for moderate to severe pain was ordered September 19.
A September 15 physician's order established the resident's acceptable pain level at 5 out of 10.
The resident confirmed to inspectors the next day that they were in pain during the dressing change and would have preferred pre-medication before the procedure.
This was not an isolated oversight. The resident's pain management had been inadequate for days. Medication records showed sporadic pain relief despite the resident's cancer diagnosis and recent major surgical procedures.
The facility's own pain management policy, last revised September 23, required staff to ensure residents receive treatment according to professional standards and comprehensive care plans. The policy specifically mentioned identifying verbal and non-verbal indicators of pain.
Yet nursing staff ignored both verbal complaints and obvious non-verbal signs of distress during the medical procedure. The resident's cries went unacknowledged while staff continued their work.
Federal inspectors cited the facility for failing to provide effective pain management. The violation carried a designation of "minimal harm or potential for actual harm."
Life Care Center of Cheyenne's approach reflected a troubling institutional attitude toward resident suffering. When pain became too severe to manage properly, staff simply decided to "push through it" rather than provide adequate medication or delay non-emergency procedures.
The resident, already dealing with cancer and the aftermath of major surgery, experienced unnecessary suffering during routine medical care. Despite having cognitive ability to communicate pain levels and medication preferences, their requests for proper pain management went largely ignored.
For a facility treating residents with serious medical conditions requiring frequent dressing changes, the failure to establish consistent pre-medication protocols represents a significant gap in basic care standards.
The resident continues living with cancer, frequent pain, and the need for ongoing colostomy and nephrostomy tube maintenance. Each future dressing change remains an opportunity for either proper pain management or repeated suffering.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Life Care Center of Cheyenne from 2025-11-18 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: June 20, 2026 · Our methodology
Life Care Center of Cheyenne in Cheyenne, WY was cited for violations during a health inspection on November 18, 2025.
The resident at Life Care Center of Cheyenne had undergone major surgeries before admission, including placement of nephrostomy tubes and a colostomy.
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.