Ridgewood Specialty Care receives state’s highest ranking

(December, 2019) Staff at Ridgewood Specialty Care in Ottumwa are celebrating a perfect survey administered by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals. They received zero deficiencies. This is the second consecutive year.

There are 439 nursing facilities in Iowa. Generally, only 5 percent are found to be deficiency-free.

Skilled nursing facilities are inspected annually to evaluate services and renew state licensure. Unannounced, state surveyors arrive to interview, observe, and check records for several days. Surveyors determine compliance with regulations governing areas such as quality of care, residents’ rights, confidentiality and quality of service. If each of the many applicable regulations is met, the nursing home is awarded a “deficiency-free” survey.

“Receiving a deficiency free rating requires an attention to detail in all areas,” says Administrator Kaitlyn Lewis. “With the intention of always thinking of ‘residents first’ we are able to provide a safe, comfortable, loving home for all those who live here with us.”

“Our team has worked hard to achieve this result,” Lewis added.