DYER, IN - Federal health inspectors cited Dyer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for three deficiencies during a complaint investigation completed on November 25, 2025, including a failure to provide adequate pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of residents.
Pharmacy Services Found Deficient
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) investigation found that Dyer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center failed to meet requirements under federal regulatory tag F0755, which mandates that long-term care facilities provide pharmaceutical services sufficient to meet each resident's needs and either employ or contract with a licensed pharmacist.
The deficiency was classified at Scope/Severity Level D, indicating an isolated incident where no actual harm was documented but where the potential existed for more than minimal harm to residents. While Level D represents the lower end of the federal severity scale, pharmacy service failures carry significant clinical implications that extend beyond their initial classification.
Why Pharmacy Oversight Matters in Nursing Homes
Pharmaceutical services in long-term care facilities encompass far more than simply dispensing medications. Adequate pharmacy services include proper medication storage, accurate dispensing, timely administration, drug interaction monitoring, and regular medication regimen reviews conducted by a licensed pharmacist.
When these systems break down, even briefly, the consequences for elderly residents can be serious. Nursing home residents typically take an average of 7 to 10 medications daily, making them particularly vulnerable to adverse drug events. Missed doses of blood pressure medication can trigger hypertensive crises. Gaps in anticoagulant therapy can increase stroke risk. Insulin timing errors can cause dangerous blood sugar fluctuations.
Federal regulations under 42 CFR §483.45 require facilities to maintain pharmaceutical services that ensure medications are administered accurately, that drug regimens are free from unnecessary medications, and that a licensed pharmacist reviews each resident's medication regimen at least monthly. These requirements exist specifically because the nursing home population faces elevated risks from medication-related errors.
Three Deficiencies and No Correction Plan
The pharmacy citation was one of three total deficiencies identified during the complaint investigation, suggesting a pattern of compliance issues rather than a single isolated lapse. Complaint investigations are initiated when CMS receives reports of potential problems at a facility, distinguishing them from routine annual surveys.
Perhaps most concerning is the facility's response — or lack thereof. As of the inspection record, Dyer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center has not submitted a plan of correction for the cited deficiencies. Federal regulations require facilities to submit a credible plan of correction that details how each deficiency will be addressed, how the facility will identify other residents potentially affected, and what systemic changes will prevent recurrence.
The absence of a correction plan raises questions about the facility's commitment to resolving the identified problems. Facilities that fail to submit timely correction plans may face escalating enforcement actions, including civil monetary penalties, denial of payment for new admissions, or in extreme cases, termination from the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
What Families Should Know
Residents and their families have the right to review inspection reports and deficiency citations for any Medicare-certified nursing facility. The CMS Nursing Home Compare database provides access to inspection histories, staffing data, and quality measures that can help families make informed decisions about care.
For current residents of Dyer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, families may wish to ask administrators directly about what steps are being taken to address the cited pharmacy deficiencies and when a formal correction plan will be submitted to regulators.
Industry Context
Pharmacy service deficiencies are among the more frequently cited violations in long-term care facilities nationwide. According to CMS data, medication-related citations consistently rank among the top categories of deficiencies identified during both routine surveys and complaint investigations. However, the combination of multiple deficiencies arising from a complaint investigation — paired with no correction plan — places this situation in a category that warrants closer monitoring by regulators and families alike.
The full inspection report, including details on all three cited deficiencies, is available through the CMS Care Compare website and the Indiana State Department of Health.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Dyer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center from 2025-11-25 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
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