Oklahoma Nursing Homes: Violations, Fines and Worst Records

Oklahoma's nursing staff turnover is the second highest of the 50 states plus Washington, D.C.: 55.5% left within a year, versus 45.8% nationally. In the state, registered nurses give each resident 0.34 hours of care a day, which falls short of the 0.69 hours seen nationally. The average overall rating across Oklahoma's 283 nursing homes stands at 2.7 stars out of five, while the national average is 3.0. The source of these figures is Medicare inspection data released by CMS, the federal Medicare agency.

Over the past three inspection cycles, 6,449 violations were recorded in Oklahoma homes; complaint visits produced 26.2% of the citations. The accident hazard and supervision rules led to 289 citations in all; 107 of them involved resident harm or immediate danger. Federal regulators have fined 145 homes in the state a total of $5,169,812 since September 2023. April 2025 brought the largest single federal penalty: a $155,928 fine for Wewoka Healthcare Center, located in Wewoka. It is one of two Special Focus homes in Oklahoma.

State inspection findings are posted for families on the Oklahoma State Department of Health Long Term Care Provider Survey/Inspection Search. The site lists complaint investigations, enforcement notices, licensing and certification surveys, and certification documents covering each Oklahoma nursing facility. Federal inspection reports for every Oklahoma home use the Form CMS-2567 statement of deficiencies. They also open from each home's Medicare Care Compare profile (once called Nursing Home Compare).

The Oklahoma State Department of Health takes complaints from anyone worried about care at an Oklahoma home, by phone at 1-800-747-8419 or through the state medical facilities complaint page. For help with a facility problem, residents and relatives can contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at the Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General. The number is (405) 521-6734. Oklahoma Adult Protective Services at 1-800-522-3511 also accepts reports when a vulnerable adult in Oklahoma is suspected of facing abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation.