Above average — CMS composite of the measures below.
The next survey window likely opens around March 2027
Estimate from public CMS data, current as of October 2026. Survey timing is at the state agency's discretion.
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Life Care Center Of Ooltewah during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
Failure to use and implement EBP: staff provided direct care to a resident with an indwelling device without wearing the required gown, and the RN/IP confirmed four other residents with a urinary catheter or open wounds did not have EBP signs or orders in place. The residents involved had conditions including a nephrostomy drain, urinary catheter, diabetic foot ulcer, surgical wound, and pressure ulcer, and staff reported gowns were unavailable during care.
A resident admitted with PTSD, anxiety, claustrophobia, and depression was not accurately assessed for trauma triggers or care planned for her specific needs. The care plan addressed PTSD only in general terms and did not include the resident’s stated triggers related to her son’s military service, helicopters, war-related conversations, or her claustrophobia. The SSD stated she used the trauma form as written and was unaware of the resident’s PTSD history and claustrophobia diagnosis, and the MDS and care plan coordinators confirmed the triggers were not included in the care plan.
A resident's home meds, including hydrocodone/acetaminophen, were found in an unlocked cupboard in a med room even though the narcotic required double-lock storage and no current order was present. In a separate med room, influenza vaccines were stored in a refrigerator with multiple missed temperature checks and repeated out-of-range readings that were not documented as corrected, despite policy and manufacturer instructions to keep them between 36 F and 46 F.
Failure to Use and Implement Enhanced Barrier Precautions
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain infection control practices when staff did not use PPE for Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) for one resident and failed to identify and implement EBP for four other residents reviewed for EBP needs. The facility policy titled, Enhanced Barrier Precautions, stated EBP should be used during high-contact resident care activities for residents with wounds and/or indwelling medical devices, including chronic wounds such as pressure ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, unhealed surgical wounds, and urinary catheters. High-contact care activities listed in the policy included dressing, bathing, and changing briefs. Resident #21 had diagnoses including Diabetes Mellitus, Prostate Cancer, and Spinal Disc Degeneration, and a physician order dated 4/14/2026 indicated EBP for a nephrostomy drain. A sign posted outside the resident’s room indicated gloves and a gown were required for dressing, bathing/providing hygiene, and changing briefs. During observation, CNA B and COTA A provided direct care to the resident and wore gloves but did not don gowns as indicated by EBP. CNA B confirmed they performed bathing, dressing, changing of brief, and positioning, and stated the PPE bin was out of gowns so they did not use any. Resident #44 had an indwelling urinary catheter and no physician order for EBP was present. Resident #90 had diagnoses including Diabetes Mellitus, Peripheral Vascular Disease, and Chronic Ulcers of Both Feet, with a diabetic ulcer to the left 2nd toe that had clear drainage and slough, and no physician order for EBP was present. Resident #110 had a surgical wound to the mid-back and no physician order for EBP was present. Resident #112 had a pressure ulcer to the sacrum and bilateral buttocks and no physician order for EBP was present. During observation and interview, the RN Infection Preventionist confirmed there was no EBP sign on the doors for Residents #44, #90, #110, and #112, and confirmed these residents should have been under EBP due to having an indwelling device or open wounds.
Incomplete Trauma-Informed Care Assessment and Care Planning
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to accurately assess a resident on admission and develop a care plan that accounted for the resident’s experience and preferences to eliminate or mitigate triggers that could cause re-traumatization. The resident was admitted with diagnoses of PTSD, anxiety disorder, claustrophobia, and depression, and the admission MDS showed a BIMS score of 15, indicating the resident was cognitively intact. The comprehensive care plan addressed PTSD only in general terms, with a goal that the resident receive as much social support as wanted and interventions limited to coordination of resources and referral to social work. The record contained no cause of PTSD and no care plan for claustrophobia. During interview, the resident stated she had PTSD and had been under the care of a psychiatrist before admission. She described specific triggers related to her son’s military service and medical helicopter work, including seeing visuals or hearing conversations about emergency situations involving helicopters, war, and similar events. She also stated the facility had not asked her about any triggers and was only concerned with her tailbone. The Social Service Director stated she used the Trauma Informed Care form as written and would not document triggers if they were not on the list, and she was unaware of the resident’s PTSD related to her son or the claustrophobia diagnosis. A Trauma Informed Care document completed after the surveyor raised the diagnoses identified PTSD-related symptoms and claustrophobia triggers, and the MDS Coordinator and care plan coordinator confirmed PTSD was care planned without triggers listed and that claustrophobia and associated triggers were not care planned.
Improper storage of a controlled substance and vaccine refrigerator temperature monitoring failures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to properly store a controlled substance for one resident in the 100 medication room. During an observation and interview, the RN/SDC confirmed that a plastic ziplock bag containing home medications for Resident #112 was kept in an unlocked cupboard in the medication room. The resident was admitted with diagnoses including diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and peripheral vascular disease, and had a BIMS score of 15, indicating cognitive intactness. The bag contained a bottle of Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen 5/325 mg, a controlled substance, with 4 whole tablets and 1 half-tablet remaining from a pharmacy fill of 5 tablets. The RN/SDC confirmed the narcotic should have been double-locked, and the DON confirmed narcotics require counting by 2 licensed nurses and storage with 2 locks. The current physician's orders for the resident did not include an order for Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen. The facility also failed to maintain refrigerator temperatures specified for vaccine storage in the 200 medication room. During observation and interview, the RN/SDC confirmed the refrigerator contained two boxes of influenza vaccine, each box holding 10 pre-filled syringes, and the boxes stated to store between 36 F and 46 F. Review of the refrigerator temperature log for the month showed 3 missed temperature entries, 15 documented temperatures outside the storage range without correction documented, and 5 days when temperatures were out of range with corrective adjustments documented. The RN/SDC confirmed there were 3 blanks on the log and that the refrigerator had temperatures recorded outside the range required by policy and the manufacturer's storage guidelines.
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Resident with a documented fall history left unattended on the patio; found on the ground with a hip fracture.
Walk-in cooler logs missing for 12 days; expired supplements in the medication room fridge.
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Nursing homes near Ooltewah
How nearby facilities compare on the same public inspection record.
| Facility | Distance | Overall rating | Citations, 12 mo | Serious (J–L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life Care Center Of Collegedale | 3 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| Chattanooga Health And Rehab Center | 4.3 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| The Health Center At Standifer Place | 4.7 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| Tennessee State Veterans Home- Cleveland | 10.1 mi | ★★★★★ | 5 | 0 |
| Life Care Center Of Hixson | 10.1 mi | ★★★★★ | 4 | 1 |
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Trusted data, never guesswork. Every citation, penalty, rating and Plan of Correction on this page is sourced from public CMS records (latest release October 2026) and official state health department websites.