PruittHealth Athens Heritage Ratings and Violations
Nursing homes provide vital services designed to support older adults and individuals with certain health conditions. However, many facilities in the United States have a history of deficiencies that put residents at risk. PruittHealth Athens Heritage in Athens, Georgia, is one nursing home that has consistently failed to maintain professional standards of care.
When nursing homes fail, residents could suffer significant harm due to abuse, neglect, or misconduct. The Nursing Home Law Center is a supportive law firm for nursing home abuse survivors that will stand by your side throughout the lawsuit process to help you recover fair compensation. On this page, we will examine the history of deficiencies at PruittHealth Athens Heritage.
PruittHealth Athens Heritage: Skilled Nursing Facility Profile
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has compiled the following data on PruittHealth Athens Heritage:
Facility Name: PruittHealth Athens Heritage LLC
Address: 960 Hawthorne Avenue, Athens, GA 30606
CMS Overall Rating: 1 star (much below average)
CMS Health Inspection Rating: 1 star (much below average)
CMS Staffing Rating: 1 star (much below average)
CMS Quality Measures Rating: 3 stars (average)
Federal Fines in the Last 3 Years: 3 fines totaling $16,801
Denied Payments by Medicare in the Last 3 Years: 0 payment denials
Cited for Abuse: No
SFF: No
About PruittHealth Athens Heritage in Athens, GA
PruittHealth Athens Heritage is a skilled nursing facility in Athens, GA, specializing in short-term rehabilitation and long-term residency. The 104-bed nursing home is owned by a for-profit LLC, PruittHealth, one of the largest nursing home chains in the region.
At PruittHealth Athens Heritage, residents receive a range of services:
- IV therapy
- Wound care
- Daily living assistance
- Occupational, physical, and speech therapy
- Hospice services
- Recreational activities
- Medication management
- Pain management
- Dietary planning
PruittHealth Athens Heritage CMS Ratings, Violations, and Health Care Safety Inspections
The CMS created a five-star rating system for nursing homes that assesses three main categories: health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. In the sections below, we will examine each of these categories at PruittHealth Athens Heritage.
Health Inspections at 960 Hawthorne Avenue, Athens, GA
The latest inspection at PruittHealth Athens Heritage, conducted in May 2024, resulted in eight health citations. In the last three years, 71 complaints have led to health citations, making this facility one of Georgia’s worst nursing homes. Specific deficiencies mentioned in these health inspection reports include the failure to:
- Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable
- Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations, which would decrease the risk of nursing home infection outbreaks
- Allow patients to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate
- Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident
- Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute, and serve food in accordance with professional standards
- Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to the proper authorities
- Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing
- Ensure that PruittHealth Athens Heritage is free from accident hazards
- Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident’s needs, with measurable timetables and actions
- Reasonably accommodate the individual needs and preferences of each resident
- Post nurse staffing information every day
- Ensure each resident receives food that accommodates the resident’s allergies, intolerances, and preferences
Staffing
Here are some specific deficiencies related to the personnel at PruittHealth Athens Heritage:
- 3 hours and 24 minutes of nurse staff hours per resident per day, compared to the Georgia average of 3 hours and 37 minutes and the national average of 3 hours and 54 minutes
- 31 minutes of registered nurse hours per resident per day, compared to the national average of 41 minutes
- 1 hour and 50 minutes of nurse aide hours per resident per day, compared to the Georgia average of 2 hours and 10 minutes and the national average of 2 hours and 21 minutes
- 3 minutes of physical therapist staff hours per resident per day, compared to the Georgia and national average of 4 minutes. This signifies serious understaffing issues.
- A nursing staff turnover rate of 54.2%, compared to the Georgia average of 47.2% and the national average of 46.4%
- A registered nurse turnover rate of 62.5%, compared to the Georgia average of 45.5% and the national average of 43.6%
Quality Measures: Short-Term and Long-Term Care Ratings
The short-term care rating at this nursing community was three stars, with multiple deficiencies:
- 16% of short-stay residents had an outpatient emergency department visit, compared to the Georgia average of 12.2% and the national average of 12%, highlighting an increase in the risk of serious nursing home injuries
- 7.89% of short-stay residents experienced new or worsened pressure ulcers, compared to the national average of 2.32%, raising concerns about nursing home bedsore treatment
- 4.35% of short-stay residents experienced one or more falls with major injuries, compared to the national average of .78%, demonstrating a failure to address nursing home fall risks
The long-term care rating at PruittHealth Athens Heritage is four stars, but there are still several areas of concern:
- 5.8% of long-stay residents experienced pressure ulcers, compared to the national average of 5.2%
- 3.9% of long-stay residents had a urinary tract infection, compared to the Georgia average of 2.5% and the national average of 1.8%, indicating an issue with nursing home UTI cases
- 1.4% of long-stay residents have had a catheter inserted and left in their bladder, compared to the Georgia average of 1.2% and the national average of 1.1%
Residents’ Legal Rights Following Abuse or Neglect at PruittHealth Athens Heritage, GA
As a resident of PruittHealth Athens Heritage, you are granted several rights by Georgia and federal laws, including the right to receive quality care, the right to maintain dignity, and the right to file administrative complaints. If your rights are violated or you suffer from other forms of mistreatment, you could hold the at-fault parties accountable for your suffering with a civil claim.
A Georgia nursing home abuse lawyer from our firm can help you recover the following legal damages in your lawsuit:
- Lost income
- Medical expenses
- Future medical costs
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
How Nursing Home Law Center Can Help Protect Nursing Home Residents in Athens, GA (30606)
The Nursing Home Law Center knows what it takes to build a strong case and fight for fair compensation. An Athens nursing home neglect attorney can provide the following legal services during your claim:
- Investigating PruittHealth Athens Heritage for wrongdoing
- Gathering evidence
- Assessing legal damages
- Protecting your rights
- Negotiating with insurers
- Litigating in civil court
Our dedicated attorneys work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win. Additionally, we offer a free consultation to answer any questions about the legal process.
If you or your family has suffered harm at PruittHealth Athens Heritage, contact us today at 800-926-7565 or complete the online form to schedule your free consultation.
All content undergoes a thorough legal review by our experienced attorneys.
Jonathan Rosenfeld is a leading Chicago nursing home injury lawyer with 25 years of experience focused on elder abuse litigation. Recognized for his dedication, he has received recognition from Illinois Trial Lawyers, Million Dollar Advocates, and Super Lawyers.