CLIFFORD CHESTER SIMS STATE VETERANS NURSING HOME
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Clifford Chester Sims State Veterans Nursing Home has received an excellent Trust Grade of A, indicating high quality and strong recommendations from residents and families. It ranks #19 out of 690 facilities in Florida, placing it in the top half, and is the best option among 5 facilities in Bay County. The facility is improving, having reduced its number of issues from 2 in 2024 to none in 2025. Staffing is rated 5 out of 5 stars, which is a strength, although the turnover rate of 47% is average compared to state norms. While there have been no fines reported, there are concerns such as missing personal belongings for a resident and safety hazards in the laundry area due to leaking machines, indicating some areas need attention despite the overall positive rating.
- Trust Score
- A
- In Florida
- #19/690
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 47% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Florida facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 53 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for Florida. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ✓ Good
- Only 3 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
The Good
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5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
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No fines on record
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Florida avg (46%)
Higher turnover may affect care consistency
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 3 deficiencies on record
Feb 2024
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Grievances
(Tag F0585)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Resident #26
On 01/29/2024 at approximately 1:54 PM, an interview was conducted with Resident #26, who reported that he had bought a jogging suit, a big sweater, a light and heavy weight zip up jacket...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Safe Environment
(Tag F0921)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations and interviews, the facility failed to maintain a safe environment for staff in the laundry room.
The findings include:
On 2/1/24 at approximately 12:40 PM, a tour was conducte...
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Sept 2022
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
PASARR Coordination
(Tag F0644)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, staff interview, and policy review, the facility failed to refer a resident with a diagnosis of a seriou...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • Grade A (90/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Florida.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Florida facilities.
- • Only 3 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Clifford Chester Sims State Veterans's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns CLIFFORD CHESTER SIMS STATE VETERANS NURSING HOME an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Florida, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.
How is Clifford Chester Sims State Veterans Staffed?
CMS rates CLIFFORD CHESTER SIMS STATE VETERANS NURSING HOME's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 47%, compared to the Florida average of 46%.
What Have Inspectors Found at Clifford Chester Sims State Veterans?
State health inspectors documented 3 deficiencies at CLIFFORD CHESTER SIMS STATE VETERANS NURSING HOME during 2022 to 2024. These included: 3 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Clifford Chester Sims State Veterans?
CLIFFORD CHESTER SIMS STATE VETERANS NURSING HOME is owned by a government entity. Government-operated facilities are typically run by state, county, or municipal agencies. The facility is operated by FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 120 certified beds and approximately 116 residents (about 97% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in PANAMA CITY, Florida.
How Does Clifford Chester Sims State Veterans Compare to Other Florida Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Florida, CLIFFORD CHESTER SIMS STATE VETERANS NURSING HOME's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.2, staff turnover (47%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Clifford Chester Sims State Veterans?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?"
Is Clifford Chester Sims State Veterans Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, CLIFFORD CHESTER SIMS STATE VETERANS NURSING HOME has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 5-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Florida. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Clifford Chester Sims State Veterans Stick Around?
CLIFFORD CHESTER SIMS STATE VETERANS NURSING HOME has a staff turnover rate of 47%, which is about average for Florida nursing homes (state average: 46%). Moderate turnover is common in nursing homes, but families should still ask about staff tenure and how the facility maintains care continuity when employees leave.
Was Clifford Chester Sims State Veterans Ever Fined?
CLIFFORD CHESTER SIMS STATE VETERANS NURSING HOME has no federal fines on record. CMS issues fines when nursing homes fail to meet care standards or don't correct problems found during inspections. The absence of fines suggests the facility has either maintained compliance or corrected any issues before penalties were assessed. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review recent inspection reports for the full picture.
Is Clifford Chester Sims State Veterans on Any Federal Watch List?
CLIFFORD CHESTER SIMS STATE VETERANS NURSING HOME is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.