Our nursing home inspector tools compares the severity of deficiences rather than the number of deficiences. We calculate the severity of each deficiency using the formula:
Severity = Scope + Level of Harm.
Then, we add up all of the severity ratings to get our final Deficiency Rating.
Nursing Homes that are Medicare and/or Medicaid certified are licensed by the state in which they operate and are required to comply with rigid standards enforced by regular facility inspections and extensive evaluations.
The state inspection deficiencies provided here are accounts reported by state inspectors of every discrepancy found where the home failed to meet the minimum standards set forth by state and federal regulations. If a home does not show any deficiencies, it has met the minimum standards required.
Be sure to examine the full descriptions provided under the Detailed Report. Some deficiencies may be more critical than others based upon the type. For example, administrative deficiencies may be less important to you than mistreatment or quality of care deficiencies.
State inspection details provide useful information that can help you compare nursing homes in your area and decide what types of questions you may want to ask when you visit the nursing home.
Note: Every attempt is made to assure that the most recent survey results are available on this website. Surveys are generally conducted every 9-15 months, however, all homes are not inspected each year.
This area shows the average number of staff hours worked each day by RNs, LPNs/LVNs and CNAs divided by the number of residents.
This is a good measure of the trained medical staff available, on average, for comparison purposes. The number of hours worked per patient is a relative statistic for comparison between different homes as well as County and State averages.
Although more hours per patient should mean better care, there are no measures for the individual care received by any given patient and the quality of care provided may be more a factor of training and dedication than the number of hours worked.
Each nursing home reports the staffing hours for a two-week period prior to the time of the state inspection.
Hours per resident per day is the average amount of hours worked divided by the total number of residents. It does not necessarily show the number of nursing staff present at any given time, or reflect the amount of care given to any one resident.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requires nursing homes to have enough staff to give adequate care to all residents. There is no current federal standard for optimal nursing staff levels, although federal law requires all nursing homes to provide enough staff to adequately care for residents. The nursing home must have at least one RN for at least 8 straight hours a day, 7 days a week and either an RN or LPN/LVN on duty 24 hours per day. Certain states may have additional staffing requirements.
These numbers are for reference only. Some nursing homes might require more nursing staff due to the conditions of their residents and other factors such as whether the nursing home has special care units.
Reference: The Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare
Potential for Minimal Harm (1 Point)
This deficiency has the potential for causing no more than a minor negative impact on the resident.
Example: The nursing home's statement of deficiencies was not posted, nor was there any sign indicating where it was. The nursing home keeps the statement of deficiencies in the business office and shows it to residents upon request.
Minimal Harm or Potential for Actual Harm (2 Points)
This deficiency results in minimal discomfort to the resident or has the potential (not yet realized) to negatively affect the resident's ability to achieve his/her highest functional status.
Example: Staff were observed not washing hands properly between resident treatments. There is no evidence of the transmission of infection between residents by staff.
Actual Harm (3 Points)
This deficiency results in a negative outcome that has negatively affected the resident's ability to achieve his/her highest functional status.
Example: A resident was "active and vocal" on admission to the nursing home. The nursing home restrained the resident 6 months ago, despite the lack of medical symptoms for doing so. The resident is now withdrawn, does not attend activities, and is "down in the dumps."
Immediate Jeopardy (4 Points)
This deficiency places the resident in immediate jeopardy as it has caused (or is likely to cause) serious injury, harm, impairment, or death to a resident receiving care in the nursing home. Immediate corrective action is necessary when this deficiency is identified.
Example: A resident with dementia was found outside during an inspection, heading toward a nearby highway. The nursing home had no working system in place to monitor residents with dementia.
Reference: The Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare
Isolated (1 Point)
This deficiency potentially or actually affects a few residents.
Example: 60 of 70 residents in the nursing home are incontinent. The nursing home failed to provide adequate care of services to restore or improve bladder function in 2 of these residents.
Pattern (2 Points)
This deficiency potentially or actually affects some residents.
Example: 60 of 70 residents in the nursing home are incontinent. The nursing home failed to provide adequate care of services to restore or improve bladder function in 10 of these residents.
Widespread (3 Points)
This deficiency potentially or actually affects many residents.
Example: 60 of 70 residents in the nursing home are incontinent. The nursing home failed to provide adequate care of services to restore or improve bladder function in half of these residents.
Reference: The Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare
This information will allow comparisons to be made among nursing homes about the proportion of residents with a particular condition. In addition, it can be used to help you decide what type of questions you may want to ask when you visit the nursing home.
This data alone should not be used to make a decision. It is important to use these numbers only as a starting point. High or low percentages may be the result of factors other than quality. Percentages for a particular measure may vary widely among nursing homes.
You should plan to visit the nursing home before making a decision. In addition, you should use this information in conjunction with the state inspection results found in the "About State Inspection Deficiencies" section of this report.
It is important to note that these characteristics are reported by the nursing home and are not audited.
Reference: The Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare
1131 Eagletree Ln, Ste100
Huntsville, AL 35801
Phone: (256) 489-4160
6 miles from nursing home
2325 Pansy Street
Huntsville, AL 35801
Phone: (256) 536-1881
6 miles from nursing home
This information is collected through the inspection process and is reviewed by nursing home inspectors.
Accepts Medicare
Medicare pays for some nursing home care in specific situations and for no more than 100 days for each benefit period. A benefit period begins the day you go to a skilled nursing facility. The benefit period ends when you have not received skilled nursing care for 60 days in a row.
Accepts Medicaid
Medicaid pays for long term care for people with low incomes and resources. Check out with your State Medicaid Agency for the income levels in your State. If a nursing home does not participate in the Medicaid program and does not accept Medicaid patients, and the resident runs out of other funds/coverage, the resident will have to move to another nursing home if he/she wants to be on Medicaid.
Type of Ownership
Nursing homes can be run by private for-profit corporations, non-profit corporations, religious affiliated organizations or government entities. Quality can vary in nursing homes within each of the different types of ownership. Each nursing home needs to be judged on its own merits.
Located within a Hospital
The nursing home is affiliated with a hospital. Often if a home is located within a hospital setting, it usually provides short-term rehab only.
Resident and Family Councils
Resident and family councils can facilitate communications with staff. The law requires nursing homes to allow councils to be set up by residents and families. If a nursing home does not have a resident and family council, ask the Administrator why. Ask to talk with council presidents to get a sense of how the nursing home has acted on their concerns.
Beds
This measure represents the total number of Medicare/Medicaid Certified Beds in the nursing home. Some nursing homes can have a combination of Medicare, Medicaid, and/or private pay beds. Please check with the nursing home to find out what types of beds are available.
Residents
This number tells you how many residents in Medicare/Medicaid Certified Beds were living in the nursing home at the time of the inspection.
Reference: The Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare
