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Complaint Investigation

Carmel Hills Wellness & Rehabilitation

March 31, 2026 · Independence, MO · 810 East Walnut
Citations 1
CMS Rating 1/5
Beds 194
Provider ID 265727
Healthcare Facility
Carmel Hills Wellness & Rehabilitation
Independence, MO  ·  View full profile →
Inspection Summary

CARMEL HILLS WELLNESS & REHABILITATION in INDEPENDENCE, MO — inspection on March 31, 2026.

Found 1 citation. Severity: Standard violations.

Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct within required timeframes. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns and are subject to follow-up verification.

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Inspection Findings

FF0689
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

During an interview on 3/30/26 at 12:11 P.M., the DON said:-Prior to the elopement the door would alarm after pushing on the release bar 20 seconds.-The administrative staff were notified, and contacted the police department and the hospitals.-He/She and the Regional Nurse Consultant (RNC) and did the sweep of the outside grounds and drove up and down the streets trying to find the resident. -The Administrator remained at the facility.-Staff continued to actively look for the resident. -The resident was found a local hospital without injury.-The hospital called the facility and Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) C took the call.-All staff were educated about the elopement and door alarms before coming back to the next shift.

During an interview on 3/30/36 at 2:36 P.M., the Administrator said:-Prior to the elopement the doors were set up to push and hold for 15 seconds then it will open, and alarm would sound. -Staff did not hear the alarm.-When FT A used the code to get off the unit the door did not sound.-FT A received education and a corrective action plan. -FT A was newer to working on that unit.

During an interview on 3/30/26 at 6:21 P.M., FT A said:-He/She was working on the secured unit.-He/She left the unit using the code and didn't check to see if anyone was following him/her.-He/She did not listen for the door to click shut once he/she passed through it. -Prior to the incident he/she had received training to watch the door for anyone trying to leave behind him/her.-Now, he/she made sure the door was closed correctly, and no one was following him/her.-He/She reported he/she was not paying attention and did not intentionally let the resident off the unit.-He/She was unsure of what time he/she came through the door, maybe around 8:15 and 8:30 P.M.

During an interview on 3/30/26 at 6:26 P.M., LVN C said:-The door used to sound about 15-20 seconds after pushing on it. -It was enough time for the person to go through the door if no one was paying attention.-To his/her knowledge the door alarm was working correctly.-Staff were trained not to allow residents out to make sure the door closes behind you.

During an interview on 3/30/26 at 6:59 P.M., Certified Nurses Aide (CNA) A said:-He/She was working the night of the elopement.-He/She remembered seeing the resident around 8:00 P.M. to 8:10 P.M -The resident was following him/her around and the last place the resident was seen was in the dining room.-The alarm did not go off the night the resident eloped.-If staff pushed on the door for a few seconds the door would open.

During an interview on 3/31/26 at 9:14 A.M., the facility's Nurse Practitioner said:-The resident was fairly new to the facility.-He/She was aware the resident had eloped.-The facility physician was in the building the next day and saw the resident.-He/She adjusted one of the resident's medications that caused restlessness.-The resident had no recollection of eloping.-He/She expected the staff to check on the resident every hour to two hours.-The resident was not exit-seeking but liked to wander.-He/She expected the staff to know he was a wanderer as that was the reason the resident was on the secure unit. 2978949

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an F-tag violation?
F-tags are federal deficiency codes used by CMS to categorize nursing home violations. Each F-tag corresponds to a specific federal regulation (42 CFR Part 483). For example, F607 relates to abuse prevention policies, F880 relates to infection control.
Were these violations corrected?
Facilities must submit plans of correction and implement changes within required timeframes. CMS conducts follow-up inspections to verify corrections. Check the inspection report for specific correction dates and follow-up verification status.
How often do nursing home inspections happen?
CMS conducts unannounced inspections of all Medicare/Medicaid-certified nursing homes at least once per year. Additional inspections may occur based on complaints, facility-reported incidents, or follow-up to verify previous violations were corrected.
What should families do about these violations?
Families should: (1) Review the full inspection report for details, (2) Ask facility administration about specific corrective actions taken, (3) Check if this represents a pattern by reviewing prior inspections, (4) Compare with other facilities in INDEPENDENCE, MO, (5) Report new concerns to state authorities.
Where can I see the full inspection report?
Complete inspection reports are available on Medicare.gov's Care Compare website (www.medicare.gov/care-compare). You can also request copies directly from CARMEL HILLS WELLNESS & REHABILITATION or from the state Department of Health. Reports include deficiency codes, facility responses, and correction timelines.


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