Avera Weskota Memorial Medical Center - Cah
A critical access hospital in Wessington Springs, South Dakota 57382
604 1st St NE, Wessington Springs, South Dakota 57382. (605) 539-1201.
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The short answer
Record last released by CMS on Oct 20, 2026.
- Not rated CMS’s overall rating
- Not rated patient survey rating
- 2 deficiencies cited in the last three years
- 16 beds
Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.
What these words mean2
- 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.
What did inspectors find?
The last inspection on record was on Nov 20, 2024: a standard inspection.
2 deficiencies cited in the last three years.
CMS, QCOR Hospital 2567 statements of deficiencies. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated monthly.
When those deficiencies happened
2 deficiencies in 1 month of the last 36. Last cited Nov 2024. Most serious: Standard-level. The last 3 years, to Nov 5, 2026.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Dec | |||||||||||
| 2024 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2025 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2026 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov |
Hover or focus a month to read it.
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.
CMS, QCOR Hospital 2567 statements of deficiencies. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated monthly.
Nov 20, 2024: standard inspection1 deficiency
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Infection Prevent & Control Policies
The inspectors’ words, 658 words
“INFECTION PREVENT & CONTROL POLICIES CFR(s): The infection prevention and control program, as documented in its policies and procedures, employs methods for preventing and controlling the transmission of infections within the CAH and between the CAH and other healthcare settings; This Standard is not met as evidenced by: 15036 46511 Based on observation, interview, and policy review, the provider failed to ensure isolation protocols had been followed by one of one registered nurse (RN) (A) during a medication pass for one of one sampled patient (1). Findings include: 1. Review of patient 1’s medical record revealed: *She had been admitted on 11/17/24 and discharged on 11/20/24. *A respiratory laboratory panel was ordered on 11/19/24. *Her diagnosis was pneumonia and acute cystitis *On 11/19/24 she was placed on isolation for droplet precautions. Observation on 11/19/24 at 8:09 a.m. during patient 1’s medication pass by RN A revealed she: *Removed the patient’s medications from the Pyxis (An automated medication dispensing device). *Stopped outside of the patient’s room with the medication cart and then: -Performed hand hygiene, put on a face mask, and a clean pair of gloves. --Posted outside of the patient’s room was an isolation sign for droplet precautions. --Droplet precautions required staff to wear the following personal protective equipment: goggles (recommended), a face mask, and a pair of clean gloves before entering the patient room. -Entered the patient’s room with the medication cart and administered several medications. -Changed her gloves without performing hand hygiene in between. -Assembled the nebulizer (neb) equipment, placed the medication in the neb machine’s medication cup, and administered the patient two nebulizer treatments. -Then wiped the top surface of the medication cart with a disinfectant wipe and exited the room. -Removed her goggles and placed them on top of the isolation cart outside the patient’s room, removed her mask, placed it in the wastepaper basket next to the isolation cart, and performed hand hygiene. -Then returned the medication cart to the medication room. Interview on 11/19/24 at 9:45 a.m. with RN A confirmed: *The patient was in isolation for droplet precautions. *She had taken the medication cart into the room to scan in the medications she administered. *She was not aware of another process to scan the medications without the medication cart. *She had only disinfected to top of the medication cart after leaving the patient’s room. *Only one medication cart was in use at that time for the medical unit. Interview on 11/19/24 at 9:53 a.m. with RN A and infection control coordinator D confirmed: *The medication cart should not have been taken into an isolation room. *The potential for cross-contamination between patients could have occurred. *Equipment used in isolation rooms required “deep cleaning” once the patient was no longer on isolation. *Personal protective equipment worn in isolation rooms should have been removed prior to exiting the room. Interview on 11/19/24 at 10:22 a.m. with director of patient care B confirmed: *Nursing staff were to leave the medication cart outside the isolation room near the doorway. *The scanning device was to be taken into the room and disinfected after use. *She thought the supplies on that medication cart would have to be thrown away. *She stated the nursing staff needed to be educated on not taking the medication cart into isolation rooms. Review of the provider’s November 2011 Droplet Precautions policy revealed: *”Droplet Precautions are designed to prevent transmission of pathogens transmitted through respiratory droplets.” *”Any equipment brought into the patient’s room for tests (e.g., EKG, x-ray, BP [blood pressure] cuffs, thermometers, etc.) must be cleaned with a facility approved disinfectant before it leaves the room). *Whenever possible, dedicate equipment for duration of isolation (BP cuff, thermometers, etc.). *Use disposable equipment whenever possible.” *”Masks are doffed [removed] in the patient room, near the door.” Review of the provider’s February 2024 Avera Standard Precautions policy revealed hand hygiene should have been performed immediately after gloves were removed and before new gloves were put on.”
Nov 18, 2024: standard inspection1 deficiency
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Initial Comments - Not A Deficiency Citation
“A recertification survey was conducted on 11/18/24 for compliance with 42 CFR 485.623(d)(1), requirements for critical access hospitals (and swing beds). Avera Weskota Memorial Medical Center - CAH was found in compliance.”
All 2 inspections in the last three years
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 20, 2024 | Standard inspection | 1 deficiency cited |
| Nov 18, 2024 | Standard inspection | 1 deficiency cited |
How do patients fare?
- CMS gives no overall 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.: “There are too few measures or measure groups reported to calculate a star rating or measure group score.”
- Of the measures behind its 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., CMS counts against the national value: readmission, 0 better and 0 worse of 1.
- CMS gives no 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.: “The number of cases/patients is too few to report a star rating.”
- Emergency department patients spent a median of 126 minutes there before leaving (Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025), and 0% left before being seen.
CMS, Hospital General Information, Patient survey (HCAHPS) - Hospital, Healthcare Associated Infections - Hospital, Timely and Effective Care - Hospital and Medicare Spending Per Beneficiary - Hospital. Released Aug 13, 2026. Updated quarterly.
CMS, Complications and Deaths - Hospital and Unplanned Hospital Visits - Hospital. Released Sep 30, 2026. Updated quarterly.
| Measure | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall ratingCMS’s overall hospital quality star rating, 1 to 5 | Not rated |
| Patient survey ratingCMS star rating from its survey of the hospital’s patients (HCAHPS), 1 to 5 | Not rated |
Is it certified, and in good standing?
- Medicare-certified critical access hospital since Oct 1, 2001.
- Ownership: voluntary non-profit - private.
- It is not accredited by a private organisation, so the state carries out its routine inspections for Medicare.
- No 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. deficiency on record in the last three years.
- Voluntary non-profit - Private.
CMS, Provider of Services File - Hospital & Non-Hospital Facilities. Released Oct 14, 2026. Updated quarterly.
CMS, Hospital General Information. Released Aug 13, 2026. Updated quarterly.
CMS, QCOR Hospital 2567 statements of deficiencies. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated monthly.
Has it been penalized?
- CMS doesn’t publish fines or other penalties for hospitals.
- CMS’s HAC Reduction Program file has no result for it: the program covers general acute care hospitals Medicare pays under its inpatient prospective payment system.
- None of the deficiencies cited in the last three years came from an inspection that included a complaint investigation.
CMS, Hospital-Acquired Condition (HAC) Reduction Program. Released Aug 13, 2026. Updated yearly.
CMS, Provider of Services File - Hospital & Non-Hospital Facilities. Released Oct 14, 2026. Updated quarterly.
CMS, QCOR Hospital 2567 statements of deficiencies. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated monthly.
What do patients say about their care?
- CMS doesn’t publish staffing levels for hospitals.
- 95% of its health care workers got a flu shot (Oct 1, 2024 to Mar 31, 2025).
CMS, Patient survey (HCAHPS) - Hospital and Timely and Effective Care - Hospital. Released Aug 13, 2026. Updated quarterly.
Who owns it?
- Avera Health owns 100% directly since Jun 1, 2000.
- Avera Health runs it.
- 18 owners or officers are people: James Francis Dover (corporate officer); Trevor Dierks (corporate director); Brad Zomer (corporate director); Diane Sandhoff (corporate director); Fredel Thomas (corporate director); Ryan Thompson (corporate director); Joyce Feteral (corporate director); Amanda Marie Schutz (corporate officer); Vicky Larson (corporate director); Jennifer L Tegethoff (corporate director); Julie Lautt (corporate officer); Hilary Rae Rockwell (corporate officer); Hilary Rae Rockwell (runs it (operational or managerial control)); Mark Puetz (corporate director); Darlene Bergeleen (corporate director); Jessica A Claussen (corporate director); Mark Hunhoff (corporate director); Nicole Stahle (corporate director).
- CMS’s Provider of Services file records 2 changes of ownership.
- No private-equity firm among the owners CMS lists.
- No real-estate investment trust among the owners CMS lists.
CMS, Hospital All Owners and Hospital Enrollments. Released Sep 29, 2026. Updated monthly.
CMS, Provider of Services File - Hospital & Non-Hospital Facilities. Released Oct 14, 2026. Updated quarterly.
| Organisation | Role | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avera Health | Owns 5% or more directly | 100% | Jun 1, 2000 |
| Avera Health | Runs it (operational or managerial control) | Jun 1, 2000 |
How does it compare nearby?
- No other hospital CMS lists is in Jerauld County.
CMS, Hospital General Information. Released Aug 13, 2026. Updated quarterly.
What the record doesn’t say
- CMS doesn’t publish fines or other penalties for hospitals, so none are shown. The one payment cut CMS publishes for each hospital, under its Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program, is shown where it applies.
- Only complaints that led to a citation appear; complaints that didn’t aren’t published.
- Most hospitals are accredited by a private organisation (The Joint Commission, DNV and others) whose routine inspections stand in for the state’s; those reports aren’t public, and QCOR holds only the state’s surveys: no inspection on record here doesn’t mean none took place.
- QCOR says its hospital inspection data are complete only through September 17, 2026, while it moves to a new system.
- CMS doesn’t publish staffing levels for hospitals.
Sources
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Hospital General Information (xubh-q36u).
Released Aug 13, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Patient survey (HCAHPS) - Hospital.
Released Aug 13, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Healthcare Associated Infections - Hospital (77hc-ibv8).
Released Aug 13, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Complications and Deaths - Hospital (ynj2-r877).
Released Sep 30, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Unplanned Hospital Visits - Hospital (632h-zaca).
Released Sep 30, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Timely and Effective Care - Hospital (yv7e-xc69).
Released Aug 13, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Medicare Spending Per Beneficiary - Hospital (rrqw-56er).
Released Aug 13, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Hospital-Acquired Condition (HAC) Reduction Program (yq43-i98g).
Released Aug 13, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated yearly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Provider of Services File - Hospital & Non-Hospital Facilities (Hospital_and_other.DATA.Q3_2026.csv).
Released Oct 14, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, QCOR Hospital 2567 statements of deficiencies (Hospital_2567s_2010_to_2026YTD.xlsx).
Released Oct 20, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated monthly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Hospital All Owners (Hospital_All_Owners_2026.09.29.csv).
Released Sep 29, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated monthly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Hospital Enrollments (Hospital_Enrollments_2026.09.29.csv).
Released Sep 29, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated monthly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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.
This copy of the record was made on Nov 5, 2026.
From the hospital
The public record above comes first. Anything the hospital adds will appear here, below it, and say who wrote it.
Replies
None. Replies aren’t open yet. When they open, the hospital 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 hospital”, and paying will never change a finding, a rating or the order of results.