NHC HEALTHCARE, ATHENS
Over 2 years since last inspection. Current conditions may differ from available data.
NHC Healthcare in Athens, Tennessee has a Trust Grade of B+, which means it is above average and recommended for families considering care options. It ranks #77 out of 298 facilities in Tennessee, placing it in the top half, and #2 out of 4 in McMinn County, indicating that only one local facility is rated higher. Unfortunately, the facility's performance is worsening, with the number of identified issues increasing from 1 in 2019 to 7 in 2023. While staffing is considered a strength with a 3/5 rating and a turnover rate that matches the state average at 48%, the RN coverage is average, which could mean less oversight than ideal. On a positive note, the facility has no fines on record, reflecting good compliance. However, there are concerns, such as a resident's private medical information being visible to others and failure to update the care plan to include necessary hospice services for another resident. Overall, NHC Healthcare has strengths in its ratings but also faces important areas for improvement.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Tennessee
- #77/298
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 48% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Tennessee facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ○ Average
- Each resident gets 32 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — about average for Tennessee. RNs are the most trained staff who monitor for health changes.
- Violations ○ Average
- 8 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
4-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Tennessee avg (46%)
Higher turnover may affect care consistency
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 8 deficiencies on record
Aug 2023
6 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
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on facility policy review, medical record review, observations, and interviews, the facility failed to ensure medical info...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
PASARR Coordination
(Tag F0644)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Review of Resident #54's PASARR Level I Form dated 9/7/2022, showed .No mental health diagnosis is known or suspected .Level I O...
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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 facility policy review, medical record review, and interview, the facility failed to revise the Comprehensive Care Plan...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0849
(Tag F0849)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on facility contract review, facility policy review, medical record review, and interview, the facility failed to ensure a...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0868
(Tag F0868)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on facility documentation review and interview the facility failed to ensure that all required members attended the quality assessment and assurance committee (QAA) meetings on a quarterly basis...
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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
Based on facility policy review, observation, and interview the facility failed to ensure appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) was worn while providing care for a COVID-19 (an infectious di...
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Jul 2023
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
Deficiency F0557
(Tag F0557)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of facility policy, medical record review, review of the facility investigation, and interview the facility fail...
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Nov 2019
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Dental Services
(Tag F0791)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on facility policy review, medical record review, and interview, the facility failed to ensure 1 resident (#11) received r...
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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 Tennessee.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Tennessee facilities.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Nhc Healthcare, Athens's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns NHC HEALTHCARE, ATHENS an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which is considered above average nationally. Within Tennessee, 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, Athens Staffed?
CMS rates NHC HEALTHCARE, ATHENS's staffing level at 3 out of 5 stars, which is average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 48%, compared to the Tennessee average of 46%.
What Have Inspectors Found at Nhc Healthcare, Athens?
State health inspectors documented 8 deficiencies at NHC HEALTHCARE, ATHENS during 2019 to 2023. These included: 8 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Nhc Healthcare, Athens?
NHC HEALTHCARE, ATHENS 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 86 certified beds and approximately 72 residents (about 84% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in ATHENS, Tennessee.
How Does Nhc Healthcare, Athens Compare to Other Tennessee Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Tennessee, NHC HEALTHCARE, ATHENS's overall rating (4 stars) is above the state average of 2.8, staff turnover (48%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Nhc Healthcare, Athens?
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, Athens Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, NHC HEALTHCARE, ATHENS 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 Tennessee. 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, Athens Stick Around?
NHC HEALTHCARE, ATHENS has a staff turnover rate of 48%, which is about average for Tennessee 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, Athens Ever Fined?
NHC HEALTHCARE, ATHENS 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, Athens on Any Federal Watch List?
NHC HEALTHCARE, ATHENS 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.