The Vardell Report.Altamaha Healthcare Center

Across 4 inspections from June 2022 to June 2026, state surveyors documented 30 findings at Altamaha Healthcare Center; 30 have a recorded correction; CMS lists 1 enforcement action in the window.

Inspections

4

2022–2026, complaint and standard

Findings

30

Deficiencies cited by state inspectors

Corrected

30

Of 30 findings, with a recorded correction date

Penalties

1

1 fine; payment not published

Every inspection in the record window, newest first. A finding is a deficiency an inspector cited. CMS publishes what a complaint investigation cited, not what the complaint alleged.

1. Jun 42026

   Complaint investigation

   1 finding

   • F727Have a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis.Level FNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Jun 15, 2026

   Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)

2. Aug 92025

   Standard health inspection

   14 findings

   The same visit included a complaint investigation.

   • F689Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.Level GActual harmCorrected Oct 16, 2025
   • F585Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.Level FNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Oct 16, 2025
   • F761Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.Level FNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Oct 16, 2025
   • F576Ensure residents have reasonable access to and privacy in their use of communication methods.Level ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Oct 16, 2025
   • F759Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.Level ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Oct 16, 2025
   • F880Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.Level ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Oct 16, 2025
   • F552Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Oct 16, 2025
   • F609Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Oct 16, 2025
   • F610Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Oct 16, 2025
   • F644Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Oct 16, 2025
   • F677Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Oct 16, 2025
   • F684Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Oct 16, 2025
   • F695Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Oct 16, 2025
   • F842Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Oct 16, 2025

   Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)

3. Jul 312024

   Standard health inspection

   12 findings

   The same visit included a complaint investigation.

   • F812Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.Level FNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Aug 31, 2024
   • F880Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.Level FNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Nov 1, 2024
   • F578Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.Level ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Aug 31, 2024
   • F607Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.Level ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Aug 31, 2024
   • F623Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.Level ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Aug 31, 2024
   • F625Notify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.Level ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Aug 31, 2024
   • F657Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Aug 31, 2024
   • F700Try different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Aug 31, 2024
   • F755Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Aug 31, 2024
   • F758Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Aug 31, 2024
   • F760Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Aug 31, 2024
   • F732Post nurse staffing information every day.Level CPotential for minimal harmCorrected Aug 31, 2024

   Enforcement Action

   Civil money penalty, $4,017 imposed July 31, 2024. CMS publishes the fine, not whether it has been paid. CMS does not tie a penalty to a survey; listed with the standard health inspection of July 31, 2024, the nearest before the penalty date.

   Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)

4. Jun 242022

   Standard health inspection

   3 findings

   • F645PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual DisabilitiesLevel ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Jul 26, 2022
   • F759Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.Level ENo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Jul 26, 2022
   • F578Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.Level DNo actual harm, potential for moreCorrected Jul 26, 2022

   Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)

Severity levels follow the CMS scope and severity grid. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy.

A repeated citation can merit attention, but context and corrective action must be reviewed before drawing a conclusion.

1. 1

   Treatment Choices and Advance Directives, Cited in Two Inspections

   Inspectors cited F578 in June 2022 and July 2024. This citation covers residents’ right to accept or refuse treatment and to make an advance directive. None rose above level E (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.

   22242526F578 across all 4 inspections, oldest to newest
2. 2

   Medication Error Rate, Cited in Two Inspections

   Inspectors cited F759 in June 2022 and August 2025. This citation covers whether medication errors stayed under 5 percent when inspectors watched medications being given. None rose above level E (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.

   22242526F759 across all 4 inspections, oldest to newest
3. 3

   Infection Control, Cited in Two Inspections

   Inspectors cited F880 in July 2024 and August 2025. This citation covers hand hygiene, isolation practice and the home’s infection-prevention program. None rose above level F (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.

   22242526F880 across all 4 inspections, oldest to newest

Bring these to the tour. Each one comes from something in the record; the reason is under the question.

1. 01

   How are a resident’s advance directive and treatment wishes recorded and shared with every shift?

   Treatment Choices and Advance Directives: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level E.

2. 02

   How are medication passes checked, and what happens when an error is found?

   Medication Error Rate: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level E.

3. 03

   Who leads infection control here, and how often are hand-hygiene and isolation practices audited?

   Infection Control: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level F.

4. 04

   How many nurses and aides are on each shift, including nights and weekends, for the unit we are considering?

   No staffing citation appears in this window. Staffing levels are published separately by CMS and are worth asking about directly.

5. 05

   What led to the 2024 fine, and has it been paid?

   A $4,017 civil money penalty was imposed July 31, 2024. CMS publishes the fine, not whether it has been paid.

Inspection results and penalties are published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from surveys conducted by the Georgia Department of Community Health, Healthcare Facility Regulation Division.

• Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)

  Georgia Department of Community Health, Healthcare Facility Regulation Division

  Inspection Jun 24, 2022 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Oct 31, 2026

• Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)

  Georgia Department of Community Health, Healthcare Facility Regulation Division

  Inspection Jul 31, 2024 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Oct 31, 2026

• Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)

  Georgia Department of Community Health, Healthcare Facility Regulation Division

  Inspection Aug 9, 2025 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Oct 31, 2026

• Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)

  Georgia Department of Community Health, Healthcare Facility Regulation Division

  Inspection Jun 4, 2026 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Oct 31, 2026

• Penalties, Provider Data Catalog

  Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

  Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Oct 31, 2026

  View Dataset ↗
• Provider Information, Provider Data Catalog

  Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · 115577

  Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Oct 31, 2026

  View Dataset ↗

Historical coverage varies by agency and location. Missing records do not mean that no complaint or violation occurred.

Data architecture: Cierto supplies the source-backed machine-readable bundle. Life by Vardell independently creates the narrative, design, and consumer report.