WILKES REGIONAL MEDICAL CTR SN
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Wilkes Regional Medical Center SN has a Trust Grade of B+, which means it is above average and generally recommended for care. It ranks #135 out of 417 nursing homes in North Carolina, placing it in the top half, and it is the top facility out of four in Wilkes County. However, the facility is facing a concerning trend as it has worsened, increasing issues from 3 in 2024 to 11 in 2025. Staffing is a major strength, rated 5/5 stars with only a 23% turnover, which is well below the state average of 49%, indicating that staff members are stable and familiar with residents' needs. While there are currently no fines on record, the health inspection score is low at 2/5 stars, and specific incidents include expired food found in the kitchen and a failure to monitor infections properly, which may pose risks to residents. Overall, while there are notable strengths, families should be aware of the recent increase in concerns.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In North Carolina
- #135/417
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ✓ Good
- 23% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 25 points below North Carolina's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most North Carolina facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 231 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of North Carolina nursing homes. RNs are the most trained staff who catch health problems before they become serious.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 14 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
-
5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
-
Low Staff Turnover (23%) · Staff stability means consistent care
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover is low (23%)
25 points below North Carolina average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, staff retention, fire safety.
The Bad
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 14 deficiencies on record
Apr 2025
11 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 record review and staff interviews, the facility failed to accurately code the Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment for th...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0655
(Tag F0655)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record reviews and staff interviews, the facility failed to develop a baseline care plan that addressed a resident's ox...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0658
(Tag F0658)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, record review and staff interviews, the facility failed to follow physician orders for 1 of 1 resident (R...
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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, record review, and staff interviews, the facility failed to post cautionary and safety signage outside re...
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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** Based on record reviews and Consultant Pharmacist interviews, the Consultant Pharmacist failed to communicate to the facility th...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Medication Errors
(Tag F0758)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record reviews, staff, Consultant Pharmacist, and Nurse Practitioner interviews, the facility failed to correctly enter...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Garbage Disposal
(Tag F0814)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation and staff interviews, the facility failed to keep the area around the garbage compactor free of accumulated trash and debris for 1 of 1 garbage compactor observed.
The findings in...
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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 record review and staff interviews, the facility failed to implement an infection surveillance plan for monitoring and tracking infections in the facility. This practice had the potential to ...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0883
(Tag F0883)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and staff interviews, the facility failed to document education was provided in the medical record regard...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0887
(Tag F0887)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, resident, and staff interviews, the facility failed to document that education was provided in the medic...
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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 observations and staff interviews, the facility failed to: (1) remove expired items from 1 of 1 reach in cooler; (2) provide an open/ use by date for food available for use in 1 of 1 walk in ...
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Apr 2024
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0578
(Tag F0578)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, record review and staff, and Nurse Practitioner interviews the facility failed to complete an advance dir...
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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, record review and staff and resident interviews, the facility failed to post cautionary and safety signs ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
QAPI Program
(Tag F0867)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, record reviews, resident, staff, and Nurse Practitioner interviews, the facility's Quality Assessment and...
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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 North Carolina.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most North Carolina facilities.
- • 23% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 25 points below North Carolina's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- • 14 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
About This Facility
What is Wilkes Regional Medical Ctr Sn's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns WILKES REGIONAL MEDICAL CTR SN an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which is considered above average nationally. Within North Carolina, 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 Wilkes Regional Medical Ctr Sn Staffed?
CMS rates WILKES REGIONAL MEDICAL CTR SN's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 23%, compared to the North Carolina average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Wilkes Regional Medical Ctr Sn?
State health inspectors documented 14 deficiencies at WILKES REGIONAL MEDICAL CTR SN during 2024 to 2025. These included: 14 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Wilkes Regional Medical Ctr Sn?
WILKES REGIONAL MEDICAL CTR SN is owned by a non-profit organization. Non-profit facilities reinvest revenue into operations rather than distributing to shareholders. The facility is operated by ATRIUM HEALTH, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 10 certified beds and approximately 7 residents (about 70% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in NORTH WILKESBORO, North Carolina.
How Does Wilkes Regional Medical Ctr Sn Compare to Other North Carolina Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in North Carolina, WILKES REGIONAL MEDICAL CTR SN's overall rating (4 stars) is above the state average of 2.8, staff turnover (23%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (2 stars) is below the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Wilkes Regional Medical Ctr Sn?
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 Wilkes Regional Medical Ctr Sn Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, WILKES REGIONAL MEDICAL CTR SN 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 North Carolina. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Wilkes Regional Medical Ctr Sn Stick Around?
Staff at WILKES REGIONAL MEDICAL CTR SN tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 23%, the facility is 23 percentage points below the North Carolina 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. Registered Nurse turnover is also low at 25%, meaning experienced RNs are available to handle complex medical needs.
Was Wilkes Regional Medical Ctr Sn Ever Fined?
WILKES REGIONAL MEDICAL CTR SN 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 Wilkes Regional Medical Ctr Sn on Any Federal Watch List?
WILKES REGIONAL MEDICAL CTR SN 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.