HEART OF GEORGIA NURSING HOME
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Heart of Georgia Nursing Home has received an excellent Trust Grade of A, indicating it is highly recommended and performs well compared to other facilities. It ranks #15 out of 353 nursing homes in Georgia, placing it in the top half, and is the best option among the two facilities in Dodge County. The facility's trend is stable, with the same number of issues reported in both 2023 and 2024. Staffing is a strength, earning 4 out of 5 stars with a turnover rate of 35%, which is well below the state average, and it provides more RN coverage than 93% of Georgia facilities. However, there are some areas of concern, including nine potential harm issues found during inspections, such as unlabeled food items in the kitchen and a lack of written notifications regarding resident transfers to hospitals. Overall, while the home has strong staffing and a good reputation, families should be aware of some procedural weaknesses that need addressing.
- Trust Score
- A
- In Georgia
- #15/353
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Holding Steady
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 35% turnover. Near Georgia's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Georgia facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 51 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for Georgia. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ○ Average
- 9 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
4-Star Staffing Rating · Above-average nurse staffing levels
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (35%)
13 points below Georgia average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, fire safety.
The Bad
10pts below Georgia avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
The Ugly 9 deficiencies on record
Sept 2024
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Dental Services
(Tag F0791)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on resident and staff interviews, record review, and review of the facility policy titled Dental, the facility failed to ensure one of 31 sampled residents (R) (R66) received annual oral screeni...
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Dec 2023
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Free from Abuse/Neglect
(Tag F0600)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on staff interviews, record review, and review of the facility policy titled Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation and Misappropria...
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Oct 2022
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Comprehensive Care Plan
(Tag F0656)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on record review, staff interviews, and review of the policy titled Care Plans, Comprehensive Person-Centered, the facility failed to develop a person-centered care plan for one resident (R) (R#...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Incontinence Care
(Tag F0690)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, resident and staff interview, and policy review, the facility failed to enter an order in the record for...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, staff interviews, and facility policy, Handwashing/Hand Hygiene, the facility failed to ensure staff performed hand hygiene during one lunch dining service of two dining services...
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Dec 2019
4 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Respiratory Care
(Tag F0695)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, record review, review of the facility policy titled Oxygen Administration, and staff interviews, the facility failed to obtain a Physician's Order for one resident (R) (#69) revi...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Transfer Notice
(Tag F0623)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** 2. Review of the Resident Census History for R#33 revealed a hospitalization from 10/3/2019 through 10/7/19. Review of the medic...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0625
(Tag F0625)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** 2. Review of the Resident Census History for R#33 revealed a hospitalization from 10/3/2019 through 10/7/19. Review of the medic...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, review of the facility policy titled Dating and Labeling Policy, and staff interviews, the facility failed...
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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 Georgia.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Georgia facilities.
- • 35% turnover. Below Georgia's 48% average. Good staff retention means consistent care.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Heart Of Georgia's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns HEART OF GEORGIA NURSING HOME an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Georgia, 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 Heart Of Georgia Staffed?
CMS rates HEART OF GEORGIA NURSING HOME's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 35%, compared to the Georgia average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Heart Of Georgia?
State health inspectors documented 9 deficiencies at HEART OF GEORGIA NURSING HOME during 2019 to 2024. These included: 9 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Heart Of Georgia?
HEART OF GEORGIA NURSING HOME is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 100 certified beds and approximately 88 residents (about 88% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in EASTMAN, Georgia.
How Does Heart Of Georgia Compare to Other Georgia Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Georgia, HEART OF GEORGIA NURSING HOME's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 2.6, staff turnover (35%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Heart Of Georgia?
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 Heart Of Georgia Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, HEART OF GEORGIA 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 Georgia. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Heart Of Georgia Stick Around?
HEART OF GEORGIA NURSING HOME has a staff turnover rate of 35%, which is about average for Georgia 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 Heart Of Georgia Ever Fined?
HEART OF GEORGIA 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 Heart Of Georgia on Any Federal Watch List?
HEART OF GEORGIA 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.