Safety Report: Southwest Montana Veterans Home
How to read this report. Every nursing home receives some citations. One citation does not mean a facility is unsafe. Look at how serious the findings were, whether the same problems keep coming back, and whether things are getting better or worse. Learn how inspections work.
Official ratings
Medicare's star ratings compare nursing homes within the same state for health inspections. A 5-star facility performed better than most in its state; a 1-star facility performed worse than most.
Stars are calculated by CMS, not by us. We do not create our own safety score.
Serious documented violations
0Immediate jeopardy citations (severity J–L)
1Actual harm citations (severity G–I)
1Requirements cited on more than one inspection
G
Government finding: Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F697
Citations by topic
1Abuse, neglect & exploitation
1Infection control
2Medications & pharmacy
1Accidents & supervision
Topics use CMS's own deficiency categories; “accidents & supervision” counts tag F689 (free of accident hazards / adequate supervision). Counts cover the last three inspection cycles, including complaint investigations.
Is it getting better or worse?
More citations in the most recent cycle (9) than in the cycle before (3).
An inspection cycle is roughly one year and includes the standard inspection plus complaint investigations. Counts depend partly on how many complaint investigations occurred, so treat small changes with caution. Red bars include at least one serious citation.
Staffing and rating trends will appear as we collect monthly CMS releases. We have one month so far, so a staffing trend cannot yet be determined.
Repeat findings
These requirements were cited on more than one inspection date in the last three cycles.
| Requirement | Times cited | Inspection dates |
|---|---|---|
| Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed. (F644) | 2 | June 19, 2025; June 6, 2024 |
Fines and enforcement
No federal fines or payment denials in the last three years.
Federal civil money penalties and Medicare/Medicaid payment denials. State-level penalties may not be included.
Complete inspection history
June 19, 2025 — 9 citations
E
Try different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F700 · corrected July 21, 2025
E
Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · F644 · corrected July 21, 2025
E
Prevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · F605 · corrected July 21, 2025
D
Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Environmental Deficiencies · F921 · corrected July 21, 2025
D
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Infection Control Deficiencies · F880 · corrected July 21, 2025
D
Provide the appropriate treatment and services to a resident who displays or is diagnosed with mental disorder or psychosocial adjustment difficulty, or who has a history of trauma and/or post-traumatic stress disorder.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F742 · corrected July 21, 2025
D
Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F690 · corrected July 21, 2025
D
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F677 · corrected July 21, 2025
D
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · F656 · corrected July 21, 2025
June 6, 2024 — 3 citations
D
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F689 · complaint · corrected July 9, 2024
D
Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · F644 · corrected July 9, 2024
D
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Rights Deficiencies · F550 · corrected July 9, 2024
May 11, 2023 — 6 citations (includes serious)
G
Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
Actual harm to a resident (not immediate jeopardy) · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F697 · corrected June 1, 2023
E
Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F679 · corrected June 1, 2023
E
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · F657 · corrected June 1, 2023
D
Have a policy regarding use and storage of foods brought to residents by family and other visitors.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · F813 · corrected June 1, 2023
D
Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · F758 · corrected June 1, 2023
D
Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · F755 · corrected June 1, 2023
Source: CMS Health Deficiencies dataset (data as of October 1, 2026); full inspection narratives on Medicare Care Compare