JAMES T CHAMPION
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
James T Champion nursing home in Meridian, Mississippi, has a Trust Grade of B+, which means it is above average and recommended for families considering care options. It ranks #39 out of 200 facilities statewide, placing it in the top half, and #2 out of 9 within Lauderdale County, indicating only one local facility is rated higher. However, the facility's trend is concerning as issues have increased from 1 in 2024 to 4 in 2025. Staffing is a strong point with a perfect rating of 5/5 stars and a turnover rate of 37%, well below the state average, which suggests staff members are experienced and familiar with the residents. Notably, there have been no fines on record, and the nursing home offers more RN coverage than 98% of its peers, which is a positive aspect as RNs can identify problems that other staff might miss. On the downside, there are specific incidents of concern, including a failure to assess risks and maintain safety standards for bed rails used by residents, which could affect many individuals in the facility. Additionally, there was a privacy violation when a resident's treatment schedule was posted publicly in their room, compromising their right to confidentiality. While the facility has strengths, these issues highlight the need for improvement in certain areas of care and oversight.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Mississippi
- #39/200
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 37% turnover. Near Mississippi's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Mississippi facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 93 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of Mississippi nursing homes. RNs are the most trained staff who catch health problems before they become serious.
- Violations ○ Average
- 7 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (37%)
11 points below Mississippi average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Mississippi avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
The Ugly 7 deficiencies on record
Apr 2025
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0583
(Tag F0583)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, record review, and facility policy review, the facility failed to ensure a resident's right to privacy of treatment information for one (1) of sixteen (16) sampled res...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0700
(Tag F0700)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview, record review, and facility policy review, the facility failed to assess the risks associated with the use of bed rails, obtain resident consent, and conduct ongoing e...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0909
(Tag F0909)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure the safe maintenance and monitoring of bed rails in accordance with manufacturer guidelines for one (1) of one (1) res...
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Jan 2025
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
Resident Rights
(Tag F0550)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on interviews, record review, and facility policy review, the facility failed to ensure a resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity when a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) would not prov...
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Jan 2024
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0646
(Tag F0646)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on staff interviews, record review, and facility policy review, the facility failed to obtain a Level II Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASARR) for a resident with a new mental heal...
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Nov 2021
2 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
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, staff interviews, record review and facility policy review the facility failed to follow the care plan 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
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, staff interview, record review and facility policy review, the facility failed to prevent the possible spr...
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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+ (80/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Mississippi.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Mississippi facilities.
- • 37% turnover. Below Mississippi'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 James T Champion's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns JAMES T CHAMPION an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which is considered above average nationally. Within Mississippi, 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 James T Champion Staffed?
CMS rates JAMES T CHAMPION's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 37%, compared to the Mississippi average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at James T Champion?
State health inspectors documented 7 deficiencies at JAMES T CHAMPION during 2021 to 2025. These included: 7 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates James T Champion?
JAMES T CHAMPION is owned by a government entity. Government-operated facilities are typically run by state, county, or municipal agencies. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 70 certified beds and approximately 63 residents (about 90% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in MERIDIAN, Mississippi.
How Does James T Champion Compare to Other Mississippi Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Mississippi, JAMES T CHAMPION's overall rating (4 stars) is above the state average of 2.6, staff turnover (37%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting James T Champion?
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 James T Champion Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, JAMES T CHAMPION 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 Mississippi. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at James T Champion Stick Around?
JAMES T CHAMPION has a staff turnover rate of 37%, which is about average for Mississippi 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 James T Champion Ever Fined?
JAMES T CHAMPION 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 James T Champion on Any Federal Watch List?
JAMES T CHAMPION 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.