NHC HEALTHCARE, WEST PLAINS
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
NHC Healthcare in West Plains, Missouri, has received a Trust Grade of B+, indicating it is above average and recommended for families considering care options. The facility ranks #40 out of 479 nursing homes in Missouri, placing it in the top half, and #2 out of 5 in Howell County, meaning only one other local facility is rated higher. The facility is improving, with issues decreasing from 8 in 2022 to 5 in 2025, and it has no fines, which is a positive sign. Staffing is a strength, with a rating of 4 out of 5 stars and a turnover rate of 44%, which is lower than the state average, ensuring continuity of care for residents. However, there are some concerns, including a failure to ensure proper food safety practices and inadequate infection control during care procedures, which could pose risks to residents. Overall, while the facility has many strengths, families should be aware of the noted deficiencies.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Missouri
- #40/479
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 44% turnover. Near Missouri's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Missouri facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 49 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for Missouri. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 13 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
4-Star Staffing Rating · Above-average nurse staffing levels
-
4-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (44%)
4 points below Missouri average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Missouri avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 13 deficiencies on record
Feb 2025
5 deficiencies
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 observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure a urinary indwelling catheter (a tube inserted...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0698
(Tag F0698)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to provide documentation of ongoing assessments, monitoring, and commu...
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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 ensure the medication cart was locked while unattended and failed to ensure a safe medication system when leaving medications...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure an environment free from accident hazards. Staff failed to secure access to soiled laundry and chemicals in an unlocke...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to maintain proper infection control practices during in...
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Feb 2022
8 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 observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure staff treated all residents with dignity and respect when they did not provide a dignity bag for one resident's (Resid...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0760
(Tag F0760)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, record review, and interview, the facility failed to ensure residents were free of significant medication errors when staff administered insulin (medication used to help control ...
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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** 3. Record review of #57's face sheet (a brief summary) showed the following:
-discharged to hospital on [DATE];
-discharged to h...
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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
3. Record review of Resident #57's face sheet (a brief summary) showed the following:
-discharged to hospital on 1/10/22.
Record review of the resident's nurses' progress notes showed the following in...
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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
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** 5. Record review of Resident #57's face sheet (basic information sheet) showed the following information:
-admission date of 12/...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Unnecessary Medications
(Tag F0759)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review, and interview, the facility failed to ensure a medication error rate of less then 5% when s...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to maintain an effective infection control program when the facility failed to ensure staff wore face coverings (masks) appropri...
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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
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to keep food safe from potential contamination when staff did not air dry dishes and stacked dishes while still wet which could ...
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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 Missouri.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Missouri facilities.
- • 44% turnover. Below Missouri's 48% average. Good staff retention means consistent care.
- • 13 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
About This Facility
What is Nhc Healthcare, West Plains's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns NHC HEALTHCARE, WEST PLAINS an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Missouri, 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 Nhc Healthcare, West Plains Staffed?
CMS rates NHC HEALTHCARE, WEST PLAINS's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 44%, compared to the Missouri average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Nhc Healthcare, West Plains?
State health inspectors documented 13 deficiencies at NHC HEALTHCARE, WEST PLAINS during 2022 to 2025. These included: 13 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Nhc Healthcare, West Plains?
NHC HEALTHCARE, WEST PLAINS 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 NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORPORATION, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 114 certified beds and approximately 62 residents (about 54% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in WEST PLAINS, Missouri.
How Does Nhc Healthcare, West Plains Compare to Other Missouri Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Missouri, NHC HEALTHCARE, WEST PLAINS's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 2.5, staff turnover (44%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Nhc Healthcare, West Plains?
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 Nhc Healthcare, West Plains Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, NHC HEALTHCARE, WEST PLAINS 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 Missouri. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Nhc Healthcare, West Plains Stick Around?
NHC HEALTHCARE, WEST PLAINS has a staff turnover rate of 44%, which is about average for Missouri 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 Nhc Healthcare, West Plains Ever Fined?
NHC HEALTHCARE, WEST PLAINS 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 Nhc Healthcare, West Plains on Any Federal Watch List?
NHC HEALTHCARE, WEST PLAINS 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.