PRUITTHEALTH - SHEPHERD HILLS
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
PruittHealth - Shepherd Hills in La Fayette, Georgia has a Trust Grade of B+, indicating it is above average and recommended for families considering care options. It ranks #95 out of 353 facilities in the state, placing it in the top half, and #2 out of 3 in Walker County, meaning only one local facility is rated higher. However, the facility is experiencing a concerning trend, worsening from 1 issue in 2022 to 8 in 2024, with 12 total issues found during inspections, most of which are concerning but not critical. While staffing is a positive aspect with a turnover rate of 34%, which is lower than the state average, the facility does have less RN coverage than 75% of Georgia facilities, potentially impacting resident care. Specific incidents noted include uncovered laundry carts entering the facility, a catheter bag dragging on the floor without proper covering, and delays in reporting an alleged abuse incident, which could undermine resident dignity and safety.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Georgia
- #95/353
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 34% 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 ⚠ Watch
- Each resident gets only 18 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — below average for Georgia. Fewer RN minutes means fewer trained eyes watching for problems.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 12 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (34%)
14 points below Georgia average of 48%
Facility shows strength in fire safety.
The Bad
11pts below Georgia avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 12 deficiencies on record
Jul 2024
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Resident Rights
(Tag F0550)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations, resident and staff interviews, record review, and review of the facility policy titled, Residents Rights, the facility failed to promote, maintain, and protect the dignity of on...
Read full inspector narrative →
CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
2. Observation on 7/10/2024 at 9:41 am revealed in the outdoor laundry department, two clean clothing carts, uncovered, near the dryer section.
Observation on 7/10/2024 at 11:18 am, Laundry Tech AA en...
Read full inspector narrative →
Apr 2024
6 deficiencies
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
Report Alleged Abuse
(Tag F0609)
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 policies titled, Reporting Patient Abuse, Neglect, Exploita...
Read full inspector narrative →
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
Investigate Abuse
(Tag F0610)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, staff interviews, document review, and review of the facility policy titled, Investigation of Patient Ab...
Read full inspector narrative →
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
ADL Care
(Tag F0677)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, record review, and review of the facility policies titled, Procedure: Perineal Care and Procedure: Catheter Care, the facility failed to clean the perineal area of bow...
Read full inspector narrative →
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
Deficiency F0727
(Tag F0727)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on facility document review and staff interview, the facility failed to provide eight hours of consecutive Registered Nurse (RN) coverage for three of 14 days on the nursing schedule.
Findings ...
Read full inspector narrative →
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
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations, staff interviews, record review, and review of the facility policies titled, Procedure: Perineal Care and Glove Use, the facility failed to follow standard and transmission-base...
Read full inspector narrative →
MINOR
(C)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Staffing Information
(Tag F0732)
Minor procedural issue · This affected most or all residents
Based on observations, staff interview, record review, and review of the facility policy titled, State Minimum Staffing for Healthcare Centers, the facility failed to ensure that posted staffing infor...
Read full inspector narrative →
Dec 2022
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
ADL Care
(Tag F0677)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on resident and staff interviews and record review, the facility failed to provide activities of daily living (ADL) care f...
Read full inspector narrative →
Apr 2019
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 observation and interviews, the facility failed to ensure that it was maintained in a safe, clean and comfortable home-...
Read full inspector narrative →
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0657
(Tag F0657)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review, policy review titled Patient/Resident [NAME] of Rights, staff and resident interviews, the ...
Read full inspector narrative →
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0914
(Tag F0914)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation and staff interview the facility failed to ensure that privacy curtains provided full visual privacy, which...
Read full inspector narrative →
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 B+ (80/100). 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.
- • 34% turnover. Below Georgia's 48% average. Good staff retention means consistent care.
- • 12 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
About This Facility
What is Pruitthealth - Shepherd Hills's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns PRUITTHEALTH - SHEPHERD HILLS an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which is considered 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 - Shepherd Hills Staffed?
CMS rates PRUITTHEALTH - SHEPHERD HILLS's staffing level at 3 out of 5 stars, which is average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 34%, compared to the Georgia average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Pruitthealth - Shepherd Hills?
State health inspectors documented 12 deficiencies at PRUITTHEALTH - SHEPHERD HILLS during 2019 to 2024. These included: 11 with potential for harm and 1 minor or isolated issues.
Who Owns and Operates Pruitthealth - Shepherd Hills?
PRUITTHEALTH - SHEPHERD HILLS 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 112 certified beds and approximately 99 residents (about 88% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in LA FAYETTE, Georgia.
How Does Pruitthealth - Shepherd Hills Compare to Other Georgia Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Georgia, PRUITTHEALTH - SHEPHERD HILLS's overall rating (4 stars) is above the state average of 2.6, staff turnover (34%) 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 - Shepherd Hills?
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 Pruitthealth - Shepherd Hills Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, PRUITTHEALTH - SHEPHERD HILLS 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 4-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 - Shepherd Hills Stick Around?
PRUITTHEALTH - SHEPHERD HILLS has a staff turnover rate of 34%, 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 Pruitthealth - Shepherd Hills Ever Fined?
PRUITTHEALTH - SHEPHERD HILLS 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 - Shepherd Hills on Any Federal Watch List?
PRUITTHEALTH - SHEPHERD HILLS 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.