SMITH COUNTY HEALTH AND REHABILITATION
Over 2 years since last inspection. Current conditions may differ from available data.
Smith County Health and Rehabilitation in Carthage, Tennessee, has a Trust Grade of F, indicating significant concerns with care quality. Ranking #94 out of 298 facilities statewide places it in the top half of Tennessee, but it is the only option in Smith County, so families may feel limited in choices. The facility's trend is worsening, with the number of issues increasing from 1 in 2018 to 3 in 2019. Staffing is a weakness, rated at just 1 out of 5 stars, with a 52% turnover rate, which is around the state average. While there have been no fines reported, which is a positive sign, the facility has received critical citations, including incidents where a resident was placed at risk due to improper use of physical restraints and hazards created by furniture placement around their bed, raising serious safety concerns.
- Trust Score
- C
- In Tennessee
- #94/298
- Safety Record
- High Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 52% 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 ⚠ Watch
- Each resident gets only 20 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — below average for Tennessee. Fewer RN minutes means fewer trained eyes watching for problems.
- Violations ○ Average
- 7 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 7 deficiencies on record
Sept 2019
3 deficiencies
2 IJ
CRITICAL
(J)
Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) - the most serious Medicare violation
Deficiency F0604
(Tag F0604)
Someone could have died · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on facility policy review, facility documentation review, medical record review and interview the facility failed to ensur...
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CRITICAL
(J)
Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) - the most serious Medicare violation
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Someone could have died · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on facility policy review, facility documentation review, medical record review, observation and interview the facility fa...
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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, facility documentation review, medical record review, observation and interview the facility fa...
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Sept 2018
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
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, observation and interview, the facility failed to serve food in a safe a...
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Aug 2017
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0224
(Tag F0224)
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 prevent misappropriation of medica...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0283
(Tag F0283)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on medical record review and interview, the facility failed to provided a discharge summary for 1 resident (#98) of 22 dis...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0371
(Tag F0371)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observation and interview, the facility's dietary department failed to maintain food preparation equipment in a sanitary manner and failed to maintain storage equipment in a sanitary manner.
...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "What changes have you made since the serious inspection findings?"
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Tennessee facilities.
- • Multiple safety concerns identified: 2 life-threatening violation(s). Review inspection reports carefully.
- • 7 deficiencies on record, including 2 critical (life-threatening) violations. These warrant careful review before choosing this facility.
- • Grade C (56/100). Below average facility with significant concerns.
About This Facility
What is Smith County's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns SMITH COUNTY HEALTH AND REHABILITATION 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 Smith County Staffed?
CMS rates SMITH COUNTY HEALTH AND REHABILITATION's staffing level at 1 out of 5 stars, which is much below average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 52%, compared to the Tennessee average of 46%. RN turnover specifically is 56%, which is notably high. RNs provide skilled clinical oversight, so turnover in this role can affect medical care quality.
What Have Inspectors Found at Smith County?
State health inspectors documented 7 deficiencies at SMITH COUNTY HEALTH AND REHABILITATION during 2017 to 2019. These included: 2 Immediate Jeopardy (the most serious level, indicating potential for serious harm or death) and 5 with potential for harm. Immediate Jeopardy findings are rare and represent the most serious regulatory concerns. They require immediate corrective action.
Who Owns and Operates Smith County?
SMITH COUNTY HEALTH AND REHABILITATION 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 SIMCHA HYMAN & NAFTALI ZANZIPER, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 128 certified beds and approximately 87 residents (about 68% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in CARTHAGE, Tennessee.
How Does Smith County Compare to Other Tennessee Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Tennessee, SMITH COUNTY HEALTH AND REHABILITATION's overall rating (4 stars) is above the state average of 2.8, staff turnover (52%) 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 Smith County?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "What changes have been made since the serious inspection findings, and how are you preventing similar issues?" "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?" These questions are particularly relevant given the facility's Immediate Jeopardy citations and the below-average staffing rating.
Is Smith County Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, SMITH COUNTY HEALTH AND REHABILITATION has documented safety concerns. Inspectors have issued 2 Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death). The facility has a 4-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Tennessee. Families considering this facility should ask detailed questions about what corrective actions have been taken since these incidents.
Do Nurses at Smith County Stick Around?
SMITH COUNTY HEALTH AND REHABILITATION has a staff turnover rate of 52%, which is 6 percentage points above the Tennessee average of 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 Smith County Ever Fined?
SMITH COUNTY HEALTH AND REHABILITATION 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 Smith County on Any Federal Watch List?
SMITH COUNTY HEALTH AND REHABILITATION 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.