PRUITTHEALTH - FITZGERALD
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
PruittHealth - Fitzgerald has received an excellent Trust Grade of A, indicating it is highly recommended for care. It ranks #28 out of 353 nursing homes in Georgia, placing it in the top half of facilities in the state and #1 out of 2 in Ben Hill County, meaning it is the best option locally. However, the facility's trend is worsening, with the number of issues increasing from 2 in 2023 to 3 in 2024, and there were a total of 8 concerns found during inspections, all of which could potentially harm residents. Staffing is a mixed bag; while the facility has a good turnover rate of 30%, the staffing rating is only 2 out of 5 stars, indicating below-average staffing levels. Notably, the facility has no fines recorded, which is a positive sign, and it provides more RN coverage than many other facilities, ensuring that residents receive critical oversight in their care. Specific incidents included failures to implement care plans for residents and issues with administering oxygen therapy as prescribed, which could impact the quality of care provided. Overall, while PruittHealth - Fitzgerald has strengths in its reputation and RN coverage, families should consider the recent trend of increasing concerns and staffing ratings when making their decision.
- Trust Score
- A
- In Georgia
- #28/353
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ✓ Good
- 30% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 18 points below Georgia's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Georgia facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ⚠ Watch
- Each resident gets only 20 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — below average for Georgia. Fewer RN minutes means fewer trained eyes watching for problems.
- Violations ○ Average
- 8 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
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5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Low Staff Turnover (30%) · Staff stability means consistent care
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
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No fines on record
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Staff turnover is low (30%)
18 points below Georgia average of 48%
Facility shows strength in quality measures, staff retention, fire safety.
The Bad
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 8 deficiencies on record
Sept 2024
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0645
(Tag F0645)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on staff interviews, record review, review of the facility-provided document titled, PASRR (Preadmission Screening and Res...
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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
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on staff interviews, record review, and review of the facility policy titled, Care Plan the facility failed to ensure the ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Respiratory Care
(Tag F0695)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, staff interviews, record review, and review of the facility's policy titled, Oxygen Administration the fa...
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Jan 2023
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Assessment Accuracy
(Tag F0641)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, record review, staff and resident interviews, and review of the facility policy titled, MDS Assessment Ac...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0645
(Tag F0645)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and staff interviews, the facility failed to submit an application for Level II PASRR (Preadmission Scree...
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Jul 2021
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Safe Environment
(Tag F0584)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, facility Policy review entitled (Infection Control- Housekeeping), and staff interviews the facility fail...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interviews, and review of facility policy titled, 'Medication Storage in Healthcare Centers' the facility failed to ensure all medication carts were locked when out of view of th...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Menu Adequacy
(Tag F0803)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, resident interviews, family interviews, staff interviews and policy review of the facility policy titled, Menu Planning, Cycles and Alternates, the facility failed to ensure food...
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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 (93/100). 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.
- • 30% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 18 points below Georgia's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Pruitthealth - Fitzgerald's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns PRUITTHEALTH - FITZGERALD 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 Pruitthealth - Fitzgerald Staffed?
CMS rates PRUITTHEALTH - FITZGERALD's staffing level at 2 out of 5 stars, which is below average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 30%, compared to the Georgia average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Pruitthealth - Fitzgerald?
State health inspectors documented 8 deficiencies at PRUITTHEALTH - FITZGERALD during 2021 to 2024. These included: 8 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Pruitthealth - Fitzgerald?
PRUITTHEALTH - FITZGERALD is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility is operated by PRUITTHEALTH, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 78 certified beds and approximately 71 residents (about 91% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in FITZGERALD, Georgia.
How Does Pruitthealth - Fitzgerald Compare to Other Georgia Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Georgia, PRUITTHEALTH - FITZGERALD's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 2.6, staff turnover (30%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Pruitthealth - Fitzgerald?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can you walk me through typical staffing levels on day, evening, and night shifts?" "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?" These questions are particularly relevant given the below-average staffing rating.
Is Pruitthealth - Fitzgerald Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, PRUITTHEALTH - FITZGERALD 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 Pruitthealth - Fitzgerald Stick Around?
Staff at PRUITTHEALTH - FITZGERALD tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 30%, the facility is 16 percentage points below the Georgia average of 46%. Low turnover is a positive sign. It means caregivers have time to learn each resident's needs, medications, and personal preferences. Consistent staff also notice subtle changes in a resident's condition more quickly.
Was Pruitthealth - Fitzgerald Ever Fined?
PRUITTHEALTH - FITZGERALD 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 Pruitthealth - Fitzgerald on Any Federal Watch List?
PRUITTHEALTH - FITZGERALD 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.