Home / Tennessee / Fayetteville
Donalson Care Center
1681 Winchester Highway, Fayetteville, TN 37334 · Lincoln County · (931) 433-7156
168 certified beds, about 83 residents a day · Non profit - Corporation · Medicare and Medicaid since 1985
CMS Care Compare ratings, data as of September 1, 2026 · CCN 445173 · See it on Medicare.gov · Compare with other homes
The record in brief
At its most recent standard inspection, on March 12, 2025, inspectors cited 7 health deficiencies (the Tennessee average is 4.4, the national average 9.2).
Of 24 health citations since July 2019, 5 were rated as actual harm or immediate jeopardy to residents (5 immediate jeopardy).
CMS lists no fines against this home in the last three years.
Nurses and nurse aides worked 3.74 hours per resident per day, against 3.80 across Tennessee and 3.86 nationally. Registered nurses accounted for 0.43 of those hours.
39.1% of nursing staff left within the year CMS measured (Tennessee average 48.9%).
CMS links it to Huntsville Hospital Health System, an affiliated group of 3 nursing homes.
Health inspections
Federal rules call for a standard inspection at least every 15 months, plus a visit whenever a complaint is filed. Each mark below is one citation, colored by how serious inspectors rated it. How to read a citation.
Under each citation, the quoted text is the inspector's own summary from the federal statement of deficiencies (CMS form 2567), word for word apart from a privacy scrub; CMS removes residents' and staff names before it publishes the text. The full notes are on Medicare.gov.
Where its citations fall on CMS's grid
CMS rates every citation by how much harm it caused (rows) and how many residents it touched (columns). The count in each box is this home's, across all 24 health citations on file.
March 12, 2025Standard inspection, Complaint inspection · 8 citations
- D Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Inspectors wroteBased on facility policy review, medical record review, observations, and interview, the facility failed to ensure medical information was not visible for 2 residents (Resident #34 and Resident #57) of 83 residents observed for dignity.
- D Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
Inspectors wroteBased on facility policy review, medical record review, and interview, the facility failed to resubmit a Pre-admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) to include a new mental health diagnosis for 2 residents (Resident #59 and #18) of 4 residents reviewed for PASRR.
- D Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Inspectors wroteBased on facility policy review, medical record review, and interviews the facility failed to follow physician's orders related to blood pressure medications for 3 residents (Residents #84, #28, and #9) of 10 residents reviewed for blood pressure medications.
- D Ensure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube.
Inspectors wroteBased on medical record review, observation, and interview the facility failed to ensure a water flush was infusing as ordered for 1 resident (Resident #20) of 3 residents reviewed for tube feedings.
- D Ensure 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.
Inspectors wroteBased on facility policy review, drug manufacturer's information, observation, and interviews, the facility failed to ensure an insulin medication was labeled appropriately to include an open and expiration date in 1 of 4 medication carts observed for medication storage which had the potential to affect 1 resident (Resident #26) of 18 residents reviewed for insulin use.
- D Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Inspectors wroteBased on facility policy review, medical record review, and interview, the facility failed to maintain an accurate medical record for 1 resident (Resident #56) of 10 residents reviewed for blood pressure medications.
- D Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Inspectors wroteBased on facility policy review, observation, and interview, the facility failed to offer hand hygiene assistance to residents prior to meals for 5 residents (Residents #4, #12, #59, #49, and #140), of 5 residents observed on 3 of 4 hallways observed for meal tray distribution and failed to ensure staff donned appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for 2 residents (Residents #30 and #27) of 6 residents observed on Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP), and failed to perform hand hygiene appropriately during medication administration for 1 resident (Resident #73) of 4 residents observed for medication administration.
- D Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Inspectors wroteBased on facility policy review, medical record review, facility documentation review, and interview the facility failed report an allegation of injury of unknown origin timely for 1 resident (Resident #20) of 5 residents reviewed for abuse.
June 30, 2021Standard inspection · 8 citations
- E Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Inspectors wroteBased on facility policy review, medical record review, observation, and interview, the facility failed to maintain a sanitary environment for 3 of 5 sample residents (Resident #23, #28, and #48) who required enteral tube feeding.
- D Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Inspectors wroteBased on facility policy review, observation, and interview, the facility failed to keep a clean and sanitary privacy curtain for 1 of 78 rooms (room [ROOM NUMBER]) observed.
- D Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Inspectors wroteBased on medical record review and interview, the facility failed to accurately assess weights on the Quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment for 1 of 38 sample residents (Resident #62) reviewed.
- D Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
Inspectors wroteBased on facility policy review, medical record review, and interview, the facility failed to coordinate the timely completion of a Level II Pre-admission Screening and Resident Review (PASARR) for 1 of 4 sample residents (Resident #80) reviewed.
- D Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Inspectors wroteBased on facility policy review, medical record review, and interview the facility failed to revise comprehensive care plans for 1 of 38 sample residents (Resident #63) reviewed. Review of the facility's policy titled, Care Plan, dated 9/23/2020, revealed, .The plan should be kept current and flexible to meet the resident's changing problems or needs . Review of the medical record, revealed Resident #63 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses which included Hypertensive Heart and Chronic Kidney Disease with Heart Failure. Review of the Significant Change Minimum Data Set (MDS) dated [DATE], revealed Resident #63 had a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 6 which indicated severe cognitive impairment. Continued review revealed the resident was assessed to require one-person extensive assistance. [...]
- D Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Inspectors wroteBased on facility policy review, medical record review, observation, and interview the facility failed to ensure 1 of 38 sample residents (Resident #56) had clean and groomed fingernails.
- D Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Inspectors wroteBased on facility policy review, medical record review, observation, and interview, the facility failed to change and date oxygen tubing and humidified water bottle for 1 of 8 sample residents (Resident #63) receiving respiratory therapy.
- D Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Inspectors wroteBased on facility policy review, medical record review, observation, and interview, the facility failed to provide a sanitary environment to help prevent the development and transmission of infection for 1 of 6 sample residents (Resident #7) who required an indwelling urinary catheter.
July 15, 2019Standard inspection · 8 citations
- K Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Inspectors wroteBased on policy review, medical record review, observation, and interview, the facility failed to revise the care plan for smoking safely with effective interventions to prevent accidents for 5 of 5 (Resident #22, #102, #30, #88, and #180) sampled residents reviewed for smoking which placed these residents in Immediate Jeopardy. Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) is a situation in which the provider's noncompliance with one or more requirements of participation has caused or is likely to cause serious injury, harm, impairment, or death to a resident. The Interim Administrator, Assistant Administrator, Director of Nursing (DON), Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON), Infection Preventionist, Quality and Infection Preventionist Director, and Minimum Data Set (MDS) Coordinator #2, were notified of the IJ on 7/12/19 at 9:32 PM, in the Conference Room. [...]
- K Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Inspectors wroteBased on policy review, medical record review, observation, and interview, the facility failed to ensure a safe environment that provided supervision to eliminate the risk of elopement and accidents for 9 of 9 (Resident #22, #102, #18, #12, #13, #38, #2, #70, and #377) wandering and smoking residents reviewed and failed to ensure residents were supervised while smoking to prevent accident hazards for 5 of 5 (Resident #22, #30, #88, #102, and #180) smoking residents. The 5 of 5 (Resident #22, #30, #88, #102, and #180) smoking residents also had knowledge and used the exit door key pad codes provided to them by the staff, allowing the residents to exit the building independently without staff supervision, were allowed to smoke unsupervised, and were allowed to keep smoking materials (cigarettes and lighters) on their person. [...]
- K Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
Inspectors wroteBased on the Interim Administrator's Contract, Director of Nursing Job Description, medical record review, observation, and interview, the Interim Administrator failed to administer the facility in a manner that enabled the facility to use its resources effectively and efficiently to attain and maintain the highest practicable well-being of the residents. Administration failed to ensure the residents that smoked had adequate supervision, and failed to provide oversight and training of staff to ensure the security devices for the exit doors were operational and the exit codes to the doors remained secure. The Administration's failure placed Residents #2, #12, #13, #18, #22, #30, #38, #70, #88, #102, #180, and #377 in Immediate Jeopardy when staff did not assess, report, implement, evaluate or monitor for resident safety concerns for smoking and elopements. [...]
- K Designate a physician to serve as medical director responsible for implementation of resident care policies and coordination of medical care in the facility.
Inspectors wroteBased on review of the Medical Director's Agreement Contract, policy review, medical record review, observation, and interview, the Medical Director failed to ensure resident care policies were developed and implemented to use resources effectively and efficiently to attain and maintain the highest practicable functioning of all residents by failing to ensure an effective plan to assure the residents' environment was safe and that vulnerable residents were adequately supervised. The Medical Director failed to identify issues and concerns in the facility related to smoking safety and elopement risk, which resulted in Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) for Resident #2, #12, #13, #18, #22, #30, #38, #70, #88, #102, #180, and #377 when staff failed to assess, report, implement, evaluate or monitor for resident safety concerns related to smoking and elopements. [...]
- K Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Inspectors wroteBased on review of the Administrator's job description, review of the Medical Director's job description, review of the Director of Nursing (DON) job description, medical record review, and interview, the Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) committee failed to ensure an effective QAPI program recognized an ongoing concern related to smoking safety, residents with elopement risks that had knowledge of exit door codes and nonfunctioning wanderguard sensors on exit doors. The QAPI committee failed to ensure the facility identified the root cause of the concerns, developed appropriate plans of action, ensured systems and processes were in place and were consistently followed by staff to address quality concerns. [...]
- E Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Inspectors wroteBased on medical record review, observation, and interview, the facility failed to ensure accurate and complete medical records for 7 of 56 (Resident #2, #22, #30, #88, #102, #180, and #377) sampled residents reviewed.
- D Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Inspectors wroteBased on medical record review, observation, and interview, the facility failed to ensure accurate Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments were conducted for residents with wander/elopement alarms for 2 of 7 (Resident #5 and #70) sampled residents reviewed with elopement risk.
- D Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Inspectors wroteBased on medical record review, observation, and interview, the facility failed to provide care and services for an indwelling urinary catheter for 1 of 1 (Resident #227) sampled residents reviewed for urinary catheters.
Fire safety inspections
14 fire safety citations on file: 12 on March 12, 2025, 2 on July 15, 2019.
Every fire safety citation14 citations
- D Address subsistence needs for staff and patients.
- D Establish policies and procedures including evacuation.
- D Establish policies and procedures for sheltering.
- D Establish policies and procedures for volunteers.
- D Create arrangements with other facilities to receive patients.
- D Establish roles under a Waiver declared by secretary.
- D List the names and contact information of those in the facility.
- D Provide emergency officials' contact information.
- D Provide family notifications of emergency plan.
- D Establish emergency prep training and testing.
- D Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords.
- D Ensure that testing and maintenance of electrical equipment is performed.
- D Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency.
- D Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Fines and payment denials
CMS lists no fines or payment denials against this home in the last three years. The national average is 0.9 fines per home.
Staffing
Hours of care per resident per day, from the payroll records every home sends CMS. Higher means more staff time with each resident.
| Measure | This home | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| All nursing staff (RN, LPN and aides) | 3.74 | 3.80 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses | 0.43 | 0.60 | 0.69 |
| All nursing staff on weekends | 3.17 | 3.31 | 3.42 |
| Nurse aides | 2.06 | ||
| Licensed practical nurses | 1.26 | ||
| Nursing staff turnover (share who left in a year) | 39.1% | 48.9% | 45.8% |
| Registered nurse turnover | 50.0% | 43.2% | 42.9% |
| Administrators who left | 1 |
CMS expects 4.12 hours a day for residents as sick as this home's (its case-mix figure). The staffing star compares the two.
Staffing by quarter, from daily payroll records
Every nursing home sends CMS its staff hours for each day (the Payroll Based Journal). Here they are added up by quarter. The latest quarter is the one behind the figures above. In January to March 2026, nursing staff hours per resident were 3.97 on weekdays and 3.17 on weekends, 20% lower on weekends (nationally, weekends ran 15% lower). Contract or agency staff worked 0.6% of nursing hours, against 5.3% nationally. Total nursing hours per resident went from 3.52 in April to June 2025 to 3.74 in January to March 2026.
| Quarter | All nursing staff | Registered nurses | Weekdays | Weekends | Contract staff share | Days with no RN hours | Residents a day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.74 | 0.43 | 3.97 | 3.17 | 0.6% | 0 of 90 | 83 |
| Oct to Dec 2025 | 3.68 | 0.47 | 3.88 | 3.18 | 0.4% | 0 of 92 | 91 |
| Jul to Sep 2025 | 3.60 | 0.40 | 3.76 | 3.21 | 0.0% | 0 of 92 | 89 |
| Apr to Jun 2025 | 3.52 | 0.23 | 3.66 | 3.18 | 0.0% | 0 of 91 | 84 |
| United States, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.75 | 0.62 | 3.92 | 3.33 | 5.3% | 0.5% of days | |
| Tennessee, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.75 | 0.56 | 3.95 | 3.27 | 4.0% | 0.7% of days |
Hours per resident per day: staff hours in the quarter divided by resident days (the daily census CMS derives from resident assessments). Registered nurses include the director of nursing and RNs with administrative duties; aides include nurse aides in training and medication aides, as in CMS's own staffing measure. How these are calculated.
Quality measures
The measures CMS uses for the quality star. Lower is better for every one of them.
| Measure | This home | Tennessee | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 7.7 | 14.0 | 13.9 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 4.4 | 3.4 | 3.2 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication Short Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 9.6 | 17.2 | 14.1 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 3.7 | 5.0 | 4.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 20.6 | 16.9 | 15.4 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 31.3 | 22.6 | 23.8 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 11.3 | 11.2 | 12.0 |
| Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 2.6 | 1.7 | 1.9 |
| Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 4.2 | 1.6 | 1.8 |
Owners and operators
Legal business name: HH HEALTH SYSTEM LINCOLN INC. CMS links this home to Huntsville Hospital Health System, a group of 3 nursing homes averaging 3.3 stars overall.
| Name | Role | Type | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Health Care Authority of the City of Huntsville | 5% or greater direct ownership interest | Organization | 100% | 07/01/2022 |
| Carter, Clinton | Corporate officer | Individual | 07/01/2022 | |
| Cobb, Tammy | Corporate officer | Individual | 08/01/2023 | |
| Samz, Jeffrey | Corporate officer | Individual | 07/01/2022 | |
| Hinton, Brad | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 06/06/2025 | |
| Vance, Jason | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 01/01/2025 | |
| Hinton, Brad | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 06/06/2025 | |
| Seals, Mary | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 01/01/2025 | |
| Vance, Jason | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 01/01/2025 |
As listed in the CMS ownership file, which names owners with a 5% or greater stake and the people and companies with operational or managerial control.
Questions to ask on a visit
Chosen from this home's own inspection record.
- When is the care plan meeting, and can family attend it?Inspectors cited 8 problems in this area, most recently on March 12, 2025: "Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed."
- How do you prevent falls and pressure injuries, and how are families told when one happens?Inspectors cited 6 problems in this area, most recently on March 12, 2025: "Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals."
- How do residents and families raise a complaint or grievance, and how fast is it answered?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on March 12, 2025: "Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights."
- What changed in infection control since the last inspection, and who on staff is the infection preventionist?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on March 12, 2025: "Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program."
- Who is on the floor on Saturday and Sunday, and how many residents does each aide care for?Weekend nurse staffing here was 3.17 hours per resident per day, below the Tennessee average of 3.31.
- How long has the current administrator been here?CMS counts 1 administrator who left in the period it measured.
Other nursing homes nearby
- Elk River Health & Rehabilitation of Fayetteville Fayetteville, 2 mi · 4 of 5 stars · 8 citations
- Lynchburg Nursing Center Lynchburg, 12.9 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 6 citations
- NHC Healthcare, Tullahoma Tullahoma, 21.9 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 13 citations
- Life Care Center of Tullahoma Tullahoma, 22.3 mi · 2 of 5 stars · 7 citations
- Elk River Health and Nursing Center of Ardmore, Ll Ardmore, 22.4 mi · 4 of 5 stars · 7 citations
- The Waters of Shelbyville, LLC Shelbyville, 23.1 mi · 4 of 5 stars · 9 citations
- Elk River Health & Nursing Center of Winchester Winchester, 24.1 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 9 citations
- Southern Tenn Medical Center SNF Winchester, 24.4 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 11 citations
Tennessee contacts for a concern about a nursing home
These are the official offices in Tennessee. NursingHomeClear cannot take or act on complaints.
- Inspections and complaints: Tennessee Health Facilities Commission, Division of Licensure and Regulation, the state agency that inspects nursing homes for CMS and takes complaints about care.
- Resident advocate: Tennessee Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Department of Disability and Aging, 877-236-0013. The long-term care ombudsman is a free, confidential advocate for residents and families, set up under the federal Older Americans Act.
Common questions
- What is Donalson Care Center's Medicare star rating?
- CMS rates Donalson Care Center 3 out of 5 stars overall, with 3 for health inspections, 2 for staffing and 3 for quality measures (CMS data as of September 1, 2026).
- How many deficiencies did Donalson Care Center get at its last inspection?
- 7 health deficiencies at the standard inspection on March 12, 2025. The Tennessee average is 4.4.
- Has Donalson Care Center been fined?
- CMS lists no fines in the last three years.
- Does Donalson Care Center accept Medicaid?
- It is certified to take Medicaid (CMS lists it as "Medicare and Medicaid"). Certification does not mean a Medicaid bed is open: ask the admissions office.
- Who owns Donalson Care Center?
- CMS lists 9 owners and managers, and links the home to Huntsville Hospital Health System. Legal business name: HH HEALTH SYSTEM LINCOLN INC.
Sources
- Ratings, staffing and fines: CMS Provider Information, released September 30, 2026, data as of September 1, 2026.
- Citations: CMS Health Deficiencies and Fire Safety Deficiencies.
- Owners: CMS Ownership. Penalties: CMS Penalties.
- Staffing by quarter: CMS Payroll Based Journal Daily Nurse Staffing, April 2025 to March 2026, summed by NursingHomeClear.
- Inspector summaries: CMS Full Statement of Deficiencies (CMS-2567 text), data as of September 1, 2026. Each quote is the part of the statement before the detailed findings.
- Inspection reports with the inspectors' full notes are on this home's Medicare.gov page.
- Something wrong on this page? Ask for a correction. We fix errors in our copy of the data; findings themselves can only be changed by CMS and the state.
- NursingHomeClear is independent and not affiliated with CMS, Medicare or any state agency. This page reports federal records; it does not rate, recommend or endorse any home, and it is not medical or legal advice.