NHC HEALTHCARE, CHATTANOOGA
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
NHC Healthcare in Chattanooga has a Trust Grade of B+, which means it's above average and generally recommended for families considering care options. It ranks #78 out of 298 facilities in Tennessee, placing it in the top half, and #6 out of 11 within Hamilton County, indicating only five other local options are better. The facility is improving, with issues decreasing from six in 2022 to four in 2024. Staffing is a concern, rated at 2 out of 5 stars, with a turnover rate of 52%, which is average but may affect consistency in care. Fortunately, there have been no fines recorded, which is a positive sign, but the RN coverage is below average, being less than 82% of other facilities in the state, meaning residents might not have as much specialized nursing attention. However, there are notable weaknesses. An inspector found that the kitchen was not kept clean, with food debris present on equipment, which could affect resident safety. Additionally, medical information for some residents was not properly protected, meaning their privacy was potentially compromised. Lastly, there were deficiencies in developing comprehensive care plans for several residents, which could impact the quality of care they receive. While the facility has strengths such as no fines and a good quality measures rating, families should weigh these concerns carefully when considering this nursing home.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Tennessee
- #78/298
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- 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 21 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — below average for Tennessee. Fewer RN minutes means fewer trained eyes watching for problems.
- Violations ○ Average
- 10 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
5-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 10 deficiencies on record
Oct 2024
4 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 facility policy review, medical record review and interview, the facility failed to accurately code a Preadmission Scre...
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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 facility policy review, medical record review and interview, the facility failed to implement a person centered compreh...
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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 review of facility job descriptions, medical record review, observation and interview, the facility failed to ensure 1 ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Medical Records
(Tag F0842)
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 interviews, the facility failed to ensure the medical record was accu...
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Jan 2022
6 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 medical record review and interview, the facility failed to accurately complete a Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment for...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0688
(Tag F0688)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on medical record review , Physical Therapy (PT) recommendations, observation and interview the facility failed to ensure ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
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, observation and interview the facility failed to implement a new intervention a...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Resident Rights
(Tag F0550)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**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
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Comprehensive Care Plan
(Tag F0656)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on facility policy review, medical record review, and interviews the facility failed to develop and implement comprehensiv...
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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 review of facility policy, observation, and interview the facility failed to maintain a clean environment in 1 of 1 kitchen observed with the potential to affect 162 of 174 residents in the f...
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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, Chattanooga's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns NHC HEALTHCARE, CHATTANOOGA 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, Chattanooga Staffed?
CMS rates NHC HEALTHCARE, CHATTANOOGA's staffing level at 2 out of 5 stars, which is below average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 52%, compared to the Tennessee average of 46%.
What Have Inspectors Found at Nhc Healthcare, Chattanooga?
State health inspectors documented 10 deficiencies at NHC HEALTHCARE, CHATTANOOGA during 2022 to 2024. These included: 10 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Nhc Healthcare, Chattanooga?
NHC HEALTHCARE, CHATTANOOGA 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 200 certified beds and approximately 181 residents (about 90% occupancy), it is a large facility located in CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee.
How Does Nhc Healthcare, Chattanooga Compare to Other Tennessee Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Tennessee, NHC HEALTHCARE, CHATTANOOGA'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 (3 stars) is at the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Nhc Healthcare, Chattanooga?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "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?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?" These questions are particularly relevant given the below-average staffing rating.
Is Nhc Healthcare, Chattanooga Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, NHC HEALTHCARE, CHATTANOOGA 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, Chattanooga Stick Around?
NHC HEALTHCARE, CHATTANOOGA 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 Nhc Healthcare, Chattanooga Ever Fined?
NHC HEALTHCARE, CHATTANOOGA 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, Chattanooga on Any Federal Watch List?
NHC HEALTHCARE, CHATTANOOGA 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.