Hearth Record

Rainbow Hospice Care

A hospice in Jefferson, Wisconsin 53549

147 W Rockwell St, Jefferson, Wisconsin 53549. (920) 674-6255.

CMS’s own record, on Care Compare

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The short answer

Record last released by CMS on Oct 23, 2026.

The last 24 months 10 deficiencies in 1 month of the last 36. Last cited Jul 2025. Most serious: Condition-level. Every month

Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.

What these words mean4
Star ratings
CMS rates some kinds of place from 1 to 5 stars, more stars meaning better on CMS’s own measures for that kind: for a nursing home, its health inspections, staffing and quality measures. A rating is CMS’s summary of those measures; it doesn’t promise good care. Source: CMS, Care Compare and the Five-Star Quality Rating System.
Inspection (survey)
A visit by state inspectors, often unannounced, who check a place against the rules it must meet. For nursing homes and other places Medicare pays, CMS calls these visits surveys: a standard survey of a nursing home comes at least every 15 months, and a complaint survey whenever a complaint calls for one. Source: CMS; 42 CFR 488.308.
Deficiency, citation, violation
What inspectors write up when a place didn’t meet a rule: the rule, what they saw, and when. CMS calls it a deficiency; states may say citation or violation. It is the inspectors’ finding, not a court’s, and the place is usually asked for a plan to correct it. Source: CMS, statement of deficiencies (Form CMS-2567); each state’s licensing agency.
Condition-level deficiency
For hospices, home health agencies, hospitals and dialysis facilities, CMS writes deficiencies at two levels. Standard is the usual one; condition-level is the more serious, when a problem is serious enough that the provider doesn’t meet a whole condition of taking part in Medicare. Source: CMS, State Operations Manual.

What did inspectors find?

10 deficiencies cited in the last three years

The middle of the 13 hospices serving ZIP code 53549 had 3.

The last inspection on record was on Aug 5, 2025: a recertification inspection by the state.

1 deficiency at condition level, the more serious of CMS’s two levels

Source:

CMS, QCOR hospice inspection reports. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated quarterly.

CMS, Hospice ZIP Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.

When those deficiencies happened

10 deficiencies in 1 month of the last 36. Last cited Jul 2025. Most serious: Condition-level. The last 3 years, to Nov 5, 2026.

10 deficiencies by month over the last 3 years. Each cell is one month.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2023 Dec
2024 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2026 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNov

Hover or focus a month to read it.

No visit on record Visited, nothing cited A stronger orange is more serious, on its source’s own levels, read onto four bands: from the least serious it publishes to the most
Source:

Hearth Record drew this from the dates and levels in the source’s own records.

Each deficiency, as cited

Rule titles as CMS’s inspectors cite them, set in sentence case.

Source:

CMS, QCOR hospice inspection reports. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated quarterly.

Jul 15, 2025: recertification inspection by the state10 deficiencies
  • Hospices that provide inpatient care directly (42 CFR 418.110)

    “Based on observation, record review and interview, the agency failed to demonstrate compliance with the physical environment and life safety from fire requirements for 1 of 1 inpatient facility [1225 Remmel Drive Watertown, WI 53094] reviewed. Findings include:See K tags for deficiencies cited.”

    Rule L0820. Condition-level.

  • Cooking Facilities (42 CFR NFPA 101)

    The inspectors’ words, 120 words

    “Based on record review and interview, the facility did not inspect the kitchen range hood equipment in accordance with the requirements of NFPA 101 (2012 edition) Sections 19.3.2.5 & 9.2.3; and NFPA 96 (2011 edition) Sections 11.4, 11.6, 11.6.1 & 11.6.13. These deficient practices could affect all residents an undetermined number of staff and visitors. Findings include:On 07/15/2025 at 9:40 am, review of inspection records for the kitchen-hood exhaust and fire suppression system over the past 18 months revealed that the facility was missing a semi- annual inspection for 2025. The prior two semi-annual inspections were conducted on 11/20/24 and 5/8/24 by Ahern. This deficient practice was confirmed at the time of discovery by a concurrent interview with Staff E.”

    Rule K0324. Standard-level.

  • Sprinkler System - Maintenance and Testing (42 CFR NFPA 101)

    The inspectors’ words, 116 words

    “Based on observation and interview, the facility did not maintain an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems 2010 edition as required in NFPA 101: Life Safety Code, 2012 edition sections 9.7, 9.7.1.1(1), 19.3.5.1; NFPA 13 (2010 edition) Sections 6.2.9.1 & 6.2.9.7. This deficient practice could affect all residents and an undetermined number of staff and visitors. Findings include: On 07/15/2025 at 12:05 pm, observation in the fire sprinkler riser room revealed two spare sprinkler head boxes located near the sprinkler supply riser did not include a list of sprinkler heads installed at the facility. This condition was confirmed at the time of discovery by Staff E.”

    Rule K0353. Standard-level.

  • Utilities - Gas and Electric (42 CFR NFPA 101)

    The inspectors’ words, 142 words

    “Based on observation and staff interview, the facility failed to properly maintain electrical devices in accordance with NFPA 101, 2012 edition, Sections 19.5.1.1, 19.3.5.1, 19.3.5.4, 9.1.2, and 9.7.1.1; NFPA 13, 2010 edition, Sections 6.1.1 and 7.2.6.2; as well as NFPA 70, 2011 edition, Sections 110.13(A). This deficient practice could affect all residents, as well as an undetermined number of staff and visitors. Findings include: On 07/15/2025 at 12:00 pm, observation in the basement sprinkler room also known as water closet room revealed air compressor used for the dry fire sprinkler system did not have a reliable power source able to restore normal air pressure to the system within 30 minutes. The compressor was connected a standard wall switch in 4”x 4” metal box without any safeguards for the switch. These deficient practices were confirmed by Staff E at the time of discovery.”

    Rule K0511. Standard-level.

  • Fire Drills (42 CFR NFPA 101)

    The inspectors’ words, 171 words

    “Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to conduct fire drills in accordance with the requirements of NFPA 101 (2012 edition) Sections 4.7.1, 4.7.2, 4.7.4, 4.7.6, 19.7.1, 19.7.1.4 and 19.7.1.6. This deficient practice could affect all residents, as well as an undetermined number of staff and visitors. Findings include: On 07/15/2025 at 10:23 am, review of the fire drill records for the last twelve months revealed that the fire drills were not conducted at varied times. The facility operates daily with two 12-hour shifts (7 am to 7 pm day shift and 7 pm to 7 am night shift). The facility performed fire drills during the day shift, second quarter on 6/26/25 at 2:38 pm and on third quarter, 8/05/2024 at 3:15 pm. The facility also performed fire drills during the night shift on second quarter, 6/26/2025 at 3:00 am and on third quarter, 9/30/2024 at 3:00 am. This condition was confirmed at the time of discovery by a concurrent interview with Staff A, Staff B and Staff E.”

    Rule K0712. Standard-level.

  • Maintenance, Inspection & Testing - Doors (42 CFR NFPA 101)

    The inspectors’ words, 127 words

    “Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to inspect fire/smoke door assemblies at least annually, with written records of inspection and testing in accordance with NFPA 101(2012 edition), sections 19.2.2.2.1, 19.7.6, 4.6.12, 7.2.1.15, 8.3.3. This deficient practice could affect all residents and an undetermined number of staff and visitors. Findings include: On 07/15/2025 at 9:30 am, it was noted during record review that the facility lacked complete documentation of which fire/smoke door assemblies had been inspected or tested in the last year. Facility lacked a list of fire/smoke door assemblies that had been tested and their location and through interview facility lacked inspection of boiler room door and the oxygen room door. This deficient practice was confirmed by Staff E at the time of discovery.”

    Rule K0761. Standard-level.

  • Essential Electrical Systems – Generator or Alternate Source (42 CFR NFPA 101)

    The inspectors’ words, 153 words

    “Based on record review, observation and interview, the facility did not complete maintenance and testing of the emergency generator and transfer switches accordance with the requirements of NFPA 101, 2012 edition, Sections 19.5.1 and 9.1.3; as well as NFPA 110, 2010 edition, Sections 5.3.1, 8.3.4 & 8.3.8, NFPA 99, 2012 edition, 6.5.4.1.1.2, 6.4.4.1.1, This deficient practice could affect all residents, as well as an undetermined number of staff and visitors. Findings include:1. On 07/15/2025 at 9:59 am, record review and interview of the annual generator tests revealed that no annual fuel oil test was performed with results recorded in accordance with fuel oil requirements of ASTM D975 in the past 12 months. Prior fuel test was on 03/08/2024.2. On 07/15/2025 at 11:36 am, observation indicated that no heat was being provided by the generator’s jacket water heater. These deficient conditions were confirmed at the time of discovery by concurrent interview with Staff E.”

    Rule K0918. Standard-level.

  • Electrical Equipment – Power Cords and Extension Cords (42 CFR NFPA 101)

    The inspectors’ words, 177 words

    “Based on observations and staff interview, the facility failed to properly maintain electrical devices in accordance with NFPA 101 (2012 edition), Sections 19.5.1.1 and 9.1.2, and NFPA 70 (2011 edition) Sections 400.8, 590.2(B) and 300.4. This deficient practice could affect all residents, as well as an undetermined number of staff and visitors. Findings include: On 07/15/2025 at 11:50 am, observation in the laundry room located on the first floor revealed that the electrical power for the soap and chemical pumps for the washing machine was supplied by plugging in an approximately 50-foot-long white extension cord that was run up an opposite wall to the top of a ventilation duct where it was coiled. It then ran across an opening in the wall along the ceiling and down the wall to the washer. The cord entered the electrical box through a connector that was designed for flexible metal conduit and the opening in the connector was larger than the cord’s diameter. These deficient conditions were confirmed at the time of discovery by a concurrent interview with Staff E.”

    Rule K0920. Standard-level.

  • Update of comprehensive assessment (42 CFR 418.54(d))

    The inspectors’ words, 358 words

    “Based on record review and interview, the agency Registered Nurse (RN) failed to assess wound status per agency policy in 1 of 1 patient (Patient #14) in a total of 19 records reviewed. Findings Include:Review of procedure #CP.M165 “Managing Pressure Ulcers” dated 7/23/2024 revealed in part “3. Monitor and assess the ulcer with all comprehensive assessments.” Further review revealed, “11. Document treatment, assessment for signs and symptoms of infection, dimensions of ulcer including length, width, and depth, the presence of undermining and/or tunneling.” Review of agency policy titled “Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) Meeting” dated 03/01/2023 revealed “Procedure: 4. The focus of IDT meeting is to review the patient’s plan of care and revise it as needed, based on the updated comprehensive assessments.” Record review for Patient #14 revealed Patient #14 resides at home and admitted to hospice with start of care 05/29/2025. Review of the Plan of Care (POC) Report revealed “Primary diagnosis of “Neoplasm uncertain behavior of trachea, bronchus and lung. Plan of care Problem (starting 06/03/2025): Symptom management need due to skin integrity: Goal: For patient will maintain skin integrity throughout the end of life, ongoing. Intervention: RN to assess coccyx at each visit.”Record review of Patient #14’s RN Comprehensive Assessment visit note documentation revealed on 06/03/2025: “Skin: Coccyx red. See wound/ulcer assessment.” Review of the RN Comprehensive Assessment visit notes dated 06/10/2025, 06/17/2025, 06/24/2025 and 07/08/2025 revealed “Skin: See wound/ulcer assessment. See wound care,” and corresponding “Wound forms” dated 06/03/2025, 06/10/2025, 06/17/2025 and 06/24/2025 revealed the RN Comprehensive assessments failed to include an assessment and measurement of the coccyx pressure area per agency policy.Record review of Interdisciplinary Group (IDG) Notes and update of the RN comprehensive assessment for Patient #14 for IDG related to the coccyx pressure area revealed: 06/16/2025: “Small pressure area to coccyx.” 07/01/2025: “RN education to Healthcare Power of Attorney (HCPOA) and daughter on wound care.” Neither note for the IDG meeting updated the findings of the RN comprehensive assessment of the coccyx pressure area.Per email communication with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) C on 07/15/2025 at 3:42 PM, “I agree we should have documented more thoroughly on these patients’ wounds and expected outcome.””

    Rule L0533. Standard-level.

  • Professional management (42 CFR 418.112(b))

    The inspectors’ words, 572 words

    “Based on record review and interview, the agency staff failed to maintain professional management responsibility of hospice services for wound management in 2 of 2 patients with wounds residing in a care facility (Patient #4 and #15) out of a total of 19 patient records reviewed. Findings Include:Review of procedure #CP.M165 “Managing Pressure Ulcers” dated 7/23/2024 revealed in part “3. Monitor and assess the ulcer with all comprehensive assessments.” Further review revealed, “11. Document treatment, assessment for signs and symptoms of infection, dimensions of ulcer including length, width, and depth, the presence of undermining and/or tunneling.” Review of Patient #4’s medical record revealed Patient #4 was admitted to hospice service on 1/17/2025 with a primary diagnosis of chronic diastolic (congestive) heart failure. Secondary diagnoses included unspecified dementia. Patient #4 resided in a Skilled nursing facility (SNF).Review of Patient #4’s recertification period of 5/17/2025 to 7/15/2025 “Plan of Care” revealed skin integrity intervention of ‘Hospice Nurse’ to assess skin breakdown with comprehensive assessment, wound care and as needed. The Plan of Care revealed that Patient #4 had a pressure ulcer on coccyx and included the ordered wound care. The Plan of Care also revealed that Patient #4 required maximum assistance with all activities of daily life and was unable to reposition self.Review of Patient #4’s Comprehensive Assessments during the recertification period revealed:5/19/2025 “Skin: decubitus/wound/ulcer.” There was no documentation of a wound assessment being completed.5/27/2025 “Skin: see wound/ulcer assessment.” There was no documentation of a wound assessment being completed.6/2/2025: There was no documentation of a wound being present.6/9/2025 “Skin: wound care managed by facility per their policy.” There was no documentation of a wound assessment being completed.6/16/2025 “Skin: decubitus/wound/ulcer.” There was no documentation of a wound assessment being completed.6/23/2025: There was no documentation of a wound assessment being completed.6/30/2025: “Skin: decubitus/wound/ulcer. [Patient #4’s] wounds are not improving. Wound care staff reporting that they are becoming more necrotic.” There was no documentation of a wound assessment being completed.7/7/2025: “Skin: decubitus/wound/ulcer. Report from [floor nurse] is that [Patient #4’s] wounds are getting worse, especially one on his/her knee.” There was no documentation of a wound assessment being completed.7/14/2025: “Skin: coccyx 4.4cm (centimeters) by 3.3 cm by 1.2 cm. Right outer knee 2cm by 3cm by 0.6 cm.” There was no documentation of a wound assessment being completed.Review of Patient #15’s medical record revealed Patient #15 was admitted to hospice services on 5/06/2025 with a primary diagnosis of Cerebrovascular Disease with secondary condition of local infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue and resided in a SNF.Review of Patient #15’s initial certification period of 5/06/2025 to 7/15/2025 “Plan of Care” revealed skin integrity intervention of ‘Hospice Nurse’ to assess skin breakdown. The Plan of Care revealed that Patient #15 had a Stage 2 pressure ulcer to coccyx on admission.Record review of Patient #15’s “RN Comprehensive Assessment” visit notes during initial certification period dated 05/07/2025, 05/12/2025, 05/16/2025, 05/19/2025, 05/22/2025, 05/28/2025, 06/03/2025, 06/16/2025 and 06/25/2025 revealed, “Skin/Integumentary: See wound assessment/wound form for documentation” with no further documentation. Review of corresponding “Wound Form” for comprehensive assessment dates revealed “Comment: Facility managing wound on coccyx.” There is no documentation of a wound status and assessment being completed at any visit. During an interview on 07/15/2025 at 12:15 PM, Senior Director of Hospice B stated, “We would expect our nurses to be documenting the measurements and the wound status and be able to see in the plan of care for those directions.””

    Rule L0762. Standard-level.

All 5 inspections in the last three years
Inspections on record
DateVisitWhat the record says
Aug 5, 2025Recertification inspection by the stateNo deficiencies cited
Aug 5, 2025Recertification inspection by the stateNo deficiencies cited
Jul 15, 2025Recertification inspection by the state3 deficiencies cited
Jul 15, 2025Recertification inspection by the state7 deficiencies cited
Apr 3, 2024Complaint inspection by the stateNo deficiencies cited

Is it certified?

  • Medicare-certified hospice since Mar 30, 1995.
  • Ownership: non-profit.
  • Cited at in the last three years: it didn’t meet a whole condition of Medicare’s rules.
Source:

CMS, Hospice General Information. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.

CMS, QCOR hospice inspection reports. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated quarterly.

Has anything been proven against it?

  • CMS doesn’t publish fines or other penalties for hospices, so none are shown.
  • 0 deficiencies cited in the last three years came from inspections that included a complaint investigation.
Source:

CMS, QCOR hospice inspection reports. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated quarterly.

Who does the caring?

  • From Medicare claims (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024): 17.7 nurse care minutes per routine home care day, 8.1% of skilled nursing minutes at weekends and a visit near death for 96.3% of patients who died.
  • Where its patients were cared for (Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024): 32% at home, 52% in assisted living, 12% in a nursing facility, 1% in an inpatient hospice, 2% elsewhere.
Source:

CMS, Hospice Provider Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.

Staffing measures
MeasureThis provider
Nurse care minutes per routine home care day17.7 min
Skilled nursing minutes at weekends8.1%
Visits near death96.3% of patients who died

Who owns it?

  • 21 owners or officers are people: Carol Brown (runs it (operational or managerial control), 100%); Tina Crave (corporate director); Lisa Jensen (corporate director); Frederick C Gremmels (corporate director); Patricia Gedemer (corporate director); Angela Zastrow (managing employee (on the payroll)); John Uttech (corporate officer); John Uttech (corporate director); Thomas M Mcgorey (managing employee (on the payroll)); Richard L Keddington (corporate director); Karen M Lacke (Carrig) (corporate officer); Kay Wipperfurth (corporate director); Michael Maier (corporate officer); Michael Maier (managing employee (on the payroll)); Nancy Alstad (corporate director); James J Nelson (corporate director); Philip Mertens (corporate officer); Philip Mertens (corporate director); Carol Brown (corporate officer); Carol Brown (managing employee (on the payroll)); Ryan Klopcic (corporate director).
  • No private-equity firm among the owners CMS lists.
  • No real-estate investment trust among the owners CMS lists.
Source:

CMS, Hospice All Owners and Hospice Enrollments. Released Sep 29, 2026. Updated quarterly.

What do families say?

  • Family caregivers rate it 4 of 5 in CMS’s survey (Oct 1, 2023 to Sep 30, 2025): 86% rated it 9 or 10 out of 10, and 91% would definitely recommend it.
  • CMS’s Hospice Care Index: 10 of 10 (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024).
  • 98.61% of patients were assessed on all seven of CMS’s measures at the start of care (Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025); 82.7% had visits from a nurse or social worker on at least 2 of their last 3 days (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024).
Source:

CMS, CAHPS Hospice Survey and Hospice Provider Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.

Ratings and measures, as published
MeasureRating
Family caregiver survey ratingCMS star rating from its survey of patients’ family caregivers, 1 to 54 of 5
Hospice Care IndexCMS’s Hospice Care Index, 0 to 10 (higher is better): a point for each of ten measures from Medicare claims on which the hospice meets CMS’s threshold10 of 10

How does it compare nearby?

  • Of the 13 hospices CMS’s data show serving patients in ZIP code 53549, where this hospice’s office is, the middle number of deficiencies cited in the last three years was 3; this one had 10.
Source:

CMS, Hospice ZIP Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.

CMS, QCOR hospice inspection reports. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated quarterly.

What the record doesn’t say

  • CMS doesn’t publish fines or other penalties for hospices, so none are shown.
  • Only complaints that led to a citation appear; complaints that didn’t aren’t published.
  • CMS ended its Special Focus Program for hospices with serious problems on Feb 14, 2025, so no hospice is marked as one.
  • Hospice quality measures have a gap from October 2025: CMS replaced its patient assessment then, and public results from the new one (HOPE) are expected around November 2027.

Sources

If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: CMS. CMS’s own record is on Care Compare. If Hearth Record copied something wrongly, it will fix it and log the correction publicly, with its date: how corrections work.

Source:

This copy of the record was made on Nov 5, 2026.

From the hospice

The public record above comes first. Anything the hospice adds will appear here, below it, and say who wrote it.

Replies

None. Replies aren’t open yet. When they open, the hospice will be able to answer any finding for free, and the reply will show beside that finding, unedited and dated.

Paid listing

None. Paid listings aren’t open yet. When they open, anything paid for will say “Paid by the hospice”, and paying will never change a finding, a rating or the order of results.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

1 of 4

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