Polaris Rehab: Daily Care Failures Cited - WY
Federal inspectors who visited on October 24, 2025 found the resident had been prescribed three drugs simultaneously, valproic acid, olanzapine, and melatonin, each of which increases sedation and drowsiness. A drug interaction check conducted during the inspection confirmed a significant interaction was possible and that physician monitoring was required. There was no documentation that anyone had flagged the combination or acted on it.
Nurses' progress notes from July 2025 failed to record when the decline began or what triggered it. An August note acknowledged the resident was "unable at times to sit up in wheelchair for staff to attempt to take" them to appointments. By that point, the damage was already done.
When inspectors interviewed RN #1 on October 21, the nurse confirmed the resident had been mobile on admission but said she did not know what had caused the decline from independent to dependent. The resident, she added, had improved after being taken off valproic acid.
The resident's son had pushed for that change. An August 17 nurse's note documented him requesting the drug be stopped and asking about an alternative. A nurse educated him on seizure risks, he accepted them, and the facility eventually made the switch. The resident's condition improved. He began communicating in complete sentences, a CNA confirmed.
When inspectors sat down with the Director of Nursing and the Nursing Home Administrator on the last day of the inspection, both said they had not been at the facility in July. They said they did not know what had happened with the medications. They also said they had identified a need to provide better quality of care.
The violation was cited at the actual harm level.
The resident who spent weeks bed-bound, being repositioned hourly, unable to sit up, had been walking when they arrived.
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 6, 2026 · Our methodology
Polaris Rehabilitation and Care Center in Cheyenne, WY was cited for violations during a health inspection on October 24, 2025.
A drug interaction check conducted during the inspection confirmed a significant interaction was possible and that physician monitoring was required.
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.