NHC HEALTHCARE, KINGSPORT

2300 PAVILION DRIVE, KINGSPORT, TN 37660 (423) 480-7048
For profit - Limited Liability company 90 Beds NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORPORATION Data: November 2025
Trust Grade
90/100
#26 of 298 in TN
Last Inspection: September 2023

Over 2 years since last inspection. Current conditions may differ from available data.

Overview

NHC Healthcare in Kingsport, Tennessee, has an excellent Trust Grade of A, indicating that it is highly recommended and ranks in the top half of nursing homes in the state at #26 out of 298 facilities. In Sullivan County, it is the top-rated facility out of seven options. The facility's trend is stable, with only two concerns noted in both 2018 and 2023, suggesting consistent oversight. Staffing is a strength, with a 4/5 star rating and a turnover rate of 32%, significantly lower than the state average, and there is more RN coverage than 89% of facilities, which is beneficial for resident care. However, there have been some concerns, such as the discovery of expired food items in the kitchen and lapses in hygiene practices among staff during meal service, which highlight areas for improvement. Overall, while there are some weaknesses, the home is generally well-regarded for its quality of care.

Trust Score
A
90/100
In Tennessee
#26/298
Top 8%
Safety Record
Low Risk
No red flags
Inspections
Holding Steady
1 → 1 violations
Staff Stability
○ Average
32% turnover. Near Tennessee's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
Penalties
✓ Good
No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Tennessee facilities.
Skilled Nurses
✓ Good
Each resident gets 59 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for Tennessee. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
Violations
✓ Good
Only 2 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
★★★★★
5.0
Overall Rating
★★★★☆
4.0
Staff Levels
★★★★★
5.0
Care Quality
★★★★☆
4.0
Inspection Score
Stable
2018: 1 issues
2023: 1 issues

The Good

  • 4-Star Staffing Rating · Above-average nurse staffing levels
  • 5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
  • Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
  • No fines on record
  • Staff turnover below average (32%)

    16 points below Tennessee average of 48%

Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.

The Bad

Staff Turnover: 32%

14pts below Tennessee avg (46%)

Typical for the industry

Chain: NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

Part of a multi-facility chain

Ask about local staffing decisions and management

The Ugly 2 deficiencies on record

Sept 2023 1 deficiency
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 facility policy review, observations and interview, the facility failed to maintain a sanitary kitchen environment by storing expired food items and failing to safely store 1 bag of food with...

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Based on facility policy review, observations and interview, the facility failed to maintain a sanitary kitchen environment by storing expired food items and failing to safely store 1 bag of food with the potential to affect all 69 residents. The findings include: Review of the facility's policy titled, Safety & Sanitation Best Practice Guidelines, dated 11/2017, showed .Refrigerated Food Storage Guide .Food .Commercially prepared .egg .covered securely; date when opened and with use by date .Food .Cheese .Milk .Storage Time .Manufacturer's expiration date . During an observation on 9/5/2023 at 11:20 AM, with the Dietary Manager, the following items were found in the main walk-in refrigerator: 1 box containing 116 fluid ounces of individual creamers, approximately 1/3 full, expired on 4/9/2023. 2- 5 pound (lb) packages of pasteurized processed Swiss cheese (unopened), expired on 7/12/2023. 1- 1 gallon container of Vitamin D milk, approximately 1/4 full, expired on 8/31/2023. During an observation on 9/5/2023 at 11:30 AM, with the Dietary Manager, the following item was found in the main walk-in freezer: 1 opened, unsealed, unlabeled bag of commercially prepared eggs containing 19 servings. During an interview on 9/5/2023 at 11:35 AM, the Dietary Manager stated food items should be sealed and labeled with opened date or discarded if expired, and he confirmed the expired and unsealed food items were available for resident use. During an observation and interview on 9/6/2023 at 8:27 AM, the Regional Dietician in the dry storage room, the following items were found: 3- 1.5 lb unopened bags of the facility's supplier's brand of Fried Crispy Onions, expired on 3/18/2023. The Regional Dietician confirmed the crispy onions were expired and available for resident consumption.
Dec 2018 1 deficiency
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 facility policy review, observation and interview the facility failed to ensure staff wore protective beard covering while preparing food for 1 of 2 staff observed; failed to wear appropriate...

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Based on facility policy review, observation and interview the facility failed to ensure staff wore protective beard covering while preparing food for 1 of 2 staff observed; failed to wear appropriate hair covering during meal service for 1 of 2 staff observed and failed to ensure staff disinfected hands after glove removal during meal service for 1 of 2 staff observed. The findings include: Review of the facility policy, Hygiene & Safety Practices, revised 11/2017 revealed .partners shall wear hair restraints such as hats, hair coverings, or nets, beard restraints .that are designed and worn to effectively keep their hair from contacting exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles . Review of the facility policy Safety & Sanitation Best Practice Guidelines .Glove Use, revised 11/2017 revealed .Always wash hands using correct hand washing procedures before putting on gloves. Putting on gloves with contaminated hands will contaminate the outside of the glove .Remove used gloves by pulling downward from wrist covering soiled portion of gloves, discard, and wash hands . Observation in the kitchen on 12/16/18 at 9:42 AM, revealed [NAME] #1 preparing cheese cake. Continued observation revealed [NAME] #1had a beard and was not wearing a protective covering over his beard. Interview with [NAME] #1 and the Chef on 12/16/18 at 10:00 AM, in the kitchen, confirmed they did not usually wear protective coverings over beards. Observation in the kitchen on 12/16/18 at 11:40 AM, revealed [NAME] #1 assisting the Chef to check food temperatures in the food prep area. Continued observation revealed [NAME] #1 did not have a protective covering over his beard. Observation of the lunch meal in the East Bistro on 12/16/18 from 12:05 PM - 1:15 PM revealed the Chef served a hot plate of food; donned a glove on the left hand; retrieved a container from the cooler without removing the glove or sanitizing the hands and prepared a sandwich. Continued observation revealed after preparing the sandwich the Chef removed and discarded the glove and continued to serve hot foods without disinfecting the hands. Further observation revealed the Chef donned a glove on the left hand, retrieved a container from the cooler without removing the glove and sanitizing the hands and prepared another sandwich. Continued observation revealed the Chef removed and discarded the glove, without disinfecting the hands, and proceeded to serve hot foods. Observation of the lunch meal on 12/17/18 at 12:20 PM, at the [NAME] Bistro revealed [NAME] #2 was wearing a baseball type cap with a long pony tail hanging out the back of the cap while preparing/plating food. Interview with the Dietary Manager on 12/17/18 at 2:30 PM, in the conference room, confirmed staff are expected to follow the facility policy and wear protective covering over beards and disinfect their hands after glove removal.
Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Life-Threatening (Immediate Jeopardy)
J - Isolated K - Pattern L - Widespread
Actual Harm
G - Isolated H - Pattern I - Widespread
Potential for Harm
D - Isolated E - Pattern F - Widespread
No Harm (Minor)
A - Isolated B - Pattern C - Widespread

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

Strengths
  • • Grade A (90/100). 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.
  • • Only 2 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
Concerns
  • • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
Bottom line: Generally positive indicators. Standard due diligence and a personal visit recommended.

About This Facility

What is Nhc Healthcare, Kingsport's CMS Rating?

CMS assigns NHC HEALTHCARE, KINGSPORT an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much 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, Kingsport Staffed?

CMS rates NHC HEALTHCARE, KINGSPORT's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 32%, compared to the Tennessee average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.

What Have Inspectors Found at Nhc Healthcare, Kingsport?

State health inspectors documented 2 deficiencies at NHC HEALTHCARE, KINGSPORT during 2018 to 2023. These included: 2 with potential for harm.

Who Owns and Operates Nhc Healthcare, Kingsport?

NHC HEALTHCARE, KINGSPORT 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 90 certified beds and approximately 80 residents (about 89% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in KINGSPORT, Tennessee.

How Does Nhc Healthcare, Kingsport Compare to Other Tennessee Nursing Homes?

Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Tennessee, NHC HEALTHCARE, KINGSPORT's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 2.9, staff turnover (32%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.

What Should Families Ask When Visiting Nhc Healthcare, Kingsport?

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, Kingsport Safe?

Based on CMS inspection data, NHC HEALTHCARE, KINGSPORT 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 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, Kingsport Stick Around?

NHC HEALTHCARE, KINGSPORT has a staff turnover rate of 32%, 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, Kingsport Ever Fined?

NHC HEALTHCARE, KINGSPORT 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, Kingsport on Any Federal Watch List?

NHC HEALTHCARE, KINGSPORT 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.