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Last updated: May 2026
NHC Healthcare Columbia is a licensed nursing home located at 101 Walnut Lane, Columbia, Tennessee 38401. The facility can be reached at (931) 381-3112. It is operated by National Healthcare Corporation, a for-profit chain, and participates in both Medicare and Medicaid. The facility is licensed for 106 certified beds.
This page summarizes publicly available CMS star ratings, staffing data, quality measures, and inspection history for NHC Healthcare Columbia based on records from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Care Compare database.
NHC Healthcare Columbia carries a 4-star above average overall rating — one of the stronger profiles among Tennessee nursing homes we have reviewed. However, several specific data points warrant attention, including staffing levels that fall below national averages, a higher-than-average fall rate among short-stay residents, and a most recent standard survey dating to November 2021 — more than four years ago. Families evaluating this facility or monitoring a loved one’s care should understand both what the data shows and what it does not. Tennessee nursing home abuse lawyer
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars — Above Average
Health Inspections: 3 out of 5 stars — Average
Staffing: 3 out of 5 stars — Average
Quality Measures: 5 out of 5 stars — Much Above Average
CMS Provider ID: 445109
Most Recent Standard Survey: November 3, 2021
Inspection data last verified: April 2026
Source: Medicare.gov Care Compare
NHC Healthcare Columbia’s 4-star overall rating reflects strong quality measures performance offset by average scores on health inspections and staffing. Families should evaluate each component separately rather than relying on the overall rating alone.
NHC Healthcare Columbia’s 5-star quality measures rating reflects genuinely strong performance on several key outcome metrics tracked by CMS.
Rehospitalization Rate — Short-Stay Residents
NHC Healthcare Columbia: 5.6%
National Average: 23.9%
Tennessee Average: 22.5%
NHC Columbia’s rehospitalization rate is more than four times lower than the national average. This is one of the strongest indicators of clinical care quality available through the CMS database — it means residents are significantly less likely to be sent back to the hospital compared to state and national averages.
Other quality measures where NHC Columbia performs well:
Long-stay hospitalization rate — 0.59 hospitalizations per 1,000 resident days versus a national average of 1.90 and Tennessee average of 1.64. Long-stay residents at this facility are hospitalized at less than one-third the national rate.
Pressure ulcer rate — 2.5% of long-stay residents developed pressure ulcers, compared to a national average of 4.9% and Tennessee average of 5.2%. This is a meaningful indicator of adequate repositioning and skin care. bedsores
Depression symptoms — Only 0.3% of long-stay residents showed symptoms of depression, compared to 12.1% nationally and 12.9% in Tennessee.
Antipsychotic medication use — 9.8% of long-stay residents received antipsychotic medications, well below the national average of 15.4% and Tennessee average of 16.9%.
Weight loss — 2.9% of long-stay residents experienced significant weight loss versus a national average of 5.3% and Tennessee average of 6.3%. malnutrition
Functional improvement — 87.5% of short-stay residents achieved at or above expected ability to care for themselves at discharge, compared to a national average of 54.47%.
Despite strong quality measures, NHC Healthcare Columbia’s staffing numbers reveal gaps families should understand.
Total Nurse Staff Hours Per Resident Per Day
NHC Columbia: 3 hrs 37 min | National Average: 3 hrs 52 min | TN Average: 3 hrs 48 min
Registered Nurse Hours Per Resident Per Day
NHC Columbia: 30 min | National Average: 41 min | TN Average: 35 min
Nurse Aide Hours Per Resident Per Day
NHC Columbia: 1 hr 59 min | National Average: 2 hrs 20 min | TN Average: 2 hrs 8 min
Weekend Total Nurse Hours Per Resident Per Day
NHC Columbia: 3 hrs 12 min | National Average: 3 hrs 26 min | TN Average: 3 hrs 19 min
NHC Healthcare Columbia provides fewer registered nurse hours per resident per day than both the national and Tennessee averages — 30 minutes compared to a national average of 41 minutes. Registered nurses play a critical role in assessing residents, identifying early signs of deterioration, and overseeing direct care staff. Facilities with lower RN hours per resident are at higher risk for missed clinical warning signs.
Nurse aide hours — the staff who provide the most direct hands-on care including repositioning, toileting, and feeding — also fall below both national and state averages. Weekend staffing is similarly below average across all measures. Families should be aware that care quality and supervision may be more variable on weekends and holidays. understaffing
One positive staffing note: NHC Columbia’s nursing staff turnover rate of 45.9% is slightly below the national average of 46.2% and Tennessee average of 48.7%. Lower turnover means residents are more likely to have consistent caregivers who know them.
While NHC Columbia’s overall quality measures are strong, two metrics warrant family attention.
Short-Stay Fall Rate with Major Injury
NHC Columbia: 1.82%
National Average: 0.77%
NHC Healthcare Columbia’s rate of short-stay residents experiencing falls with major injury is more than twice the national average. Falls with major injury — fractures, traumatic brain injuries, serious lacerations — are among the most serious preventable events in nursing home care. This data point warrants direct conversation with the facility about fall prevention protocols for newly admitted residents.
Bowel and bladder incontinence — 25.3% of long-stay residents developed new or worsened incontinence, compared to a national average of 19.4% and Tennessee average of 20.1%. This is above average and may reflect gaps in continence care and toileting assistance. Inadequate continence care is also a risk factor for urinary tract infections, which can progress to sepsis in elderly residents.
Flu vaccination for healthcare personnel — Only 16.75% of healthcare staff received flu vaccinations compared to a national average of 42.00%. Low staff vaccination rates increase the risk of flu transmission to vulnerable residents.
Important Note on Inspection Currency
The most recent standard survey for NHC Healthcare Columbia on file with Medicare Care Compare is dated November 3, 2021 — more than four years ago. No complaint investigations or infection control inspections are recorded in the past three years.
CMS requires nursing homes to be surveyed at least once every 15 months. A gap of more than four years in the publicly available record is unusual and means the current regulatory compliance picture is not fully reflected in available data. Families should contact the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission directly for the most current inspection information.
The November 2021 standard survey cited four deficiencies — below the Tennessee average of 5.7 and well below the national average of 9.4 for that period.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning — Failed to ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment. Severity Level 2, Few residents affected. An accurate resident assessment is the foundation of individualized care. Without it, staff may be unaware of a resident’s specific risks including fall risk, skin integrity concerns, and dietary needs.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning — Failed to develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident’s needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured. Severity Level 2, Few residents affected. Care planning deficiencies are among the most commonly cited findings in Tennessee nursing homes.
Resident Rights — Failed to keep residents’ personal and medical records private and confidential. Severity Level 2, Few residents affected.
Nutrition and Dietary — Failed to procure food from approved sources and store, prepare, distribute, and serve food in accordance with professional standards. Severity Level 2, Few residents affected.
No Immediate Jeopardy citations, no federal fines, no Medicare payment denials, and no complaint investigations in the past three years appear in NHC Healthcare Columbia’s record.
NHC Healthcare Columbia presents a genuinely mixed picture that families should interpret carefully.
The strong quality measures — particularly the rehospitalization rate, pressure ulcer rate, and functional improvement metrics — reflect real clinical outcomes. A rehospitalization rate of 5.6% versus a national average of 23.9% is not a documentation artifact. It means residents at this facility are significantly less likely to end up back in the hospital.
At the same time, staffing levels below national averages — particularly for registered nurses and nurse aides — represent structural gaps that can affect care quality even when overall outcomes are strong. Families should ask specifically about staffing on nights, weekends, and holidays.
The fall rate for short-stay residents is the most concerning data point on this page. A rate more than twice the national average for falls with major injury among short-stay residents warrants direct conversation with the facility’s director of nursing. falls and fractures
The four-year gap in publicly available inspection data means families cannot fully assess current regulatory compliance from Medicare records alone.
For a complete guide to reading CMS ratings and inspection data, see our page on Understanding Nursing Home Inspections and Ratings.
Even facilities with above-average ratings can and do fail individual residents. A strong overall rating does not mean every resident receives adequate care and does not prevent serious injuries from occurring.
If a family member suffered a serious injury or died while residing at NHC Healthcare Columbia, you may have legal options under Tennessee law. The Higgins Firm handles serious nursing home neglect and abuse cases throughout Middle Tennessee including Maury County and the Columbia area.
Tennessee’s statute of limitations for nursing home negligence cases is one year from the date of injury or discovery. For wrongful death cases, it is one year from the date of death.
The initial consultation is free. We handle nursing home cases on a contingency fee basis — no fee unless we recover compensation for your family.
Request a Free Case Review Call Us to Discuss What Happened at NHC Columbia — 866-972-0125
As of April 2026, NHC Healthcare Columbia has a 4-star above average overall rating. Its quality measures rating is 5 stars — Much Above Average. Its health inspection and staffing ratings are both 3 stars — Average. Current ratings are available at Medicare.gov Care Compare using CMS Provider ID 445109.
The most recent standard survey on file with Medicare Care Compare is dated November 3, 2021. CMS requires facilities to be surveyed at least once every 15 months. A gap of more than four years is unusual. Families seeking current inspection information should contact the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission directly.
NHC Healthcare Columbia’s short-stay rehospitalization rate of 5.6% compares to a national average of 23.9%. Residents are sent back to the hospital at a rate more than four times lower than the national average — a strong indicator of clinical care quality.
NHC Healthcare Columbia’s short-stay fall rate with major injury is 1.82% compared to a national average of 0.77% — more than double the national rate. A strong overall quality measures score does not mean every individual metric is strong. The fall rate is an area families of short-stay residents should specifically ask about.
Document what you observed — photographs of any injuries, written notes with dates and staff names. Seek medical attention immediately if your loved one shows signs of harm. Contact The Higgins Firm for a free consultation. Tennessee’s one-year statute of limitations means acting quickly matters.
No. The initial consultation is free. The Higgins Firm handles nursing home cases on a contingency fee basis — our fee is a percentage of any recovery we obtain. Nothing is owed upfront and nothing if we do not recover.
Tennessee nursing home inspections — Tennessee Nursing Home Inspections Hub
Tennessee nursing home abuse lawyer — Tennessee Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
AHC Bethesda Cookeville — AHC Bethesda Cookeville Inspection History
falls and fractures — Nursing Home Falls and Fractures
understaffing — Nursing Home Understaffing
wrongful death — Nursing Home Wrongful Death Cases
The Higgins Firm represents families in nursing home neglect and abuse cases throughout Tennessee. Inspection data on this page is sourced from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Care Compare database. CMS Provider ID 445109. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. | Last updated: May 2026
Dedicated legal advocates protecting your loved ones nationwide. When nursing homes break their promise of care, our experienced attorneys fight for the justice your family deserves.