HICKORY CREEK AT COLUMBUS
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Hickory Creek at Columbus has a Trust Grade of B+, which means it's above average and generally recommended for families considering nursing home options. It ranks #50 out of 505 facilities in Indiana, placing it in the top half, and #2 of 6 in Bartholomew County, indicating that only one local facility is rated higher. However, the facility's trend is worsening, with the number of issues increasing from 2 in 2023 to 3 in 2024. Staffing is a concern, with a 2/5 star rating and a turnover rate of 34%, which is better than the state average but still indicates room for improvement. On the positive side, there have been no fines, which is a good sign, and the facility has more RN coverage than 83% of Indiana facilities, ensuring that nurses can catch issues that might be missed by other staff. Specific incidents noted during inspections included a serious issue where a resident experienced significant pain during a wound dressing change due to a lack of appropriate pain management, and concerns about not notifying a physician when a resident's blood glucose levels were dangerously high. Additionally, another resident's blood pressure was not monitored as required, which could pose health risks. While the facility has strengths, particularly in RN coverage and lack of fines, these serious concerns highlight important areas that families should consider when researching care options.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Indiana
- #50/505
- Safety Record
- Moderate
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 34% turnover. Near Indiana's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Indiana facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 46 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for Indiana. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 11 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (34%)
14 points below Indiana average of 48%
Facility shows strength in quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
11pts below Indiana avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 11 deficiencies on record
Aug 2024
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Notification of Changes
(Tag F0580)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to notify the physician of blood glucose levels per the physician's order for 1 of 14 residents reviewed for notification of change. (Resident...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Quality of Care
(Tag F0684)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to monitor a resident's blood pressure as ordered by the physician's for 1 of 14 residents reviewed for quality of care. (Resident 7)
Findings...
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Jan 2024
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
Medical Records
(Tag F0842)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure a resident's record accurately reflected the administration of a narcotic medication for 1 of 3 residents reviewed for resident reco...
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Jun 2023
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Pressure Ulcer Prevention
(Tag F0686)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to identify pressure ulcers in a timely manner and document treatment administrations for 1 of 2 residents reviewed for pressure ulcers. (Resi...
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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, interview, and record review, the facility failed to store medications appropriately related to insulin pens for 1 of 2 medication carts reviewed. (Back Hall medication cart)
Fin...
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Jun 2022
6 deficiencies
1 Harm
SERIOUS
(G)
Actual Harm - a resident was hurt due to facility failures
Deficiency F0697
(Tag F0697)
A resident was harmed · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to implement appropriate pain management interventions before or during a wound treatment resulting in the resident crying out, ...
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CONCERN
(D)
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, and record review, the facility failed to provide fingernail care for 1 of 15 residents reviewed for Activities of Daily Living. (Resident 13)
Findings include:
During...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Quality of Care
(Tag F0684)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to apply treatments to a resident's wound (Resident 12) for 1 of 15 residents reviewed for quality of care.
Findings include:
D...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Pressure Ulcer Prevention
(Tag F0686)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to prevent an unstageable (full thickness tissue loss) pressure ulcer for 1 of 2 residents reviewed for pressure ulcers. (Reside...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
2. Resident 19 was observed in her room in bed on 06/17/22 at 9:45 A.M. The resident's bed was in a low position, and a low air loss mattress was in place. The resident was laying on her right side le...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Drug Regimen Review
(Tag F0756)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** 3. The clinical record for Resident 2 was reviewed on 06/16/22 at 2:26 P.M. A Quarterly MDS assessment, dated 05/26/22, indicate...
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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 B+ (85/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Indiana.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Indiana facilities.
- • 34% turnover. Below Indiana's 48% average. Good staff retention means consistent care.
- • 11 deficiencies on record, including 1 serious (caused harm) violation. Ask about corrective actions taken.
About This Facility
What is Hickory Creek At Columbus's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns HICKORY CREEK AT COLUMBUS an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Indiana, 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 Hickory Creek At Columbus Staffed?
CMS rates HICKORY CREEK AT COLUMBUS's staffing level at 2 out of 5 stars, which is below average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 34%, compared to the Indiana average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Hickory Creek At Columbus?
State health inspectors documented 11 deficiencies at HICKORY CREEK AT COLUMBUS during 2022 to 2024. These included: 1 that caused actual resident harm and 10 with potential for harm. Deficiencies causing actual harm indicate documented cases where residents experienced negative health consequences.
Who Owns and Operates Hickory Creek At Columbus?
HICKORY CREEK AT COLUMBUS is owned by a government entity. Government-operated facilities are typically run by state, county, or municipal agencies. The facility is operated by AMERICAN SENIOR COMMUNITIES, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 36 certified beds and approximately 31 residents (about 86% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in COLUMBUS, Indiana.
How Does Hickory Creek At Columbus Compare to Other Indiana Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Indiana, HICKORY CREEK AT COLUMBUS's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (34%) 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 Hickory Creek At Columbus?
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 Hickory Creek At Columbus Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, HICKORY CREEK AT COLUMBUS 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 Indiana. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Hickory Creek At Columbus Stick Around?
HICKORY CREEK AT COLUMBUS has a staff turnover rate of 34%, which is about average for Indiana 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 Hickory Creek At Columbus Ever Fined?
HICKORY CREEK AT COLUMBUS 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 Hickory Creek At Columbus on Any Federal Watch List?
HICKORY CREEK AT COLUMBUS 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.