Hickory Creek of Athens

In the surveyor’s words

From the most serious findings on record at Hickory Creek of Athens, in the surveyor’s own words.

• Actual harm, isolatedF684Aug 11, 2025

  Based on record review, review of on-call physician contact procedures, and staff interview, the facility failed to ensure a resident, who had a significant change in condition, received appropriate and timely consultation with the on-call advanced level provider for a transfer to the hospital for an evaluation. This affected one (Resident #36) of two residents reviewed for hospitalization. Actual Harm occurred when Resident #36 displayed a significant change in condition consistent with a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and did not receive a timely transfer to the hospital for evaluation and treatment. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF727Oct 4, 2022

  Based on record review and interview the facility failed to use the services of a registered nurse for at least eight consecutive hours a day, seven days a week as required. This had the potential to affect all 88 residents residing in the facility. Findings Include: Review of the nursing staff schedule for 09/2022 revealed on 09/24/22 and 09/25/22 there was not an RN working in the facility. On 10/03/22 at 3:53 P.M. interview with the Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed there was not a RN working on 09/24/22 or 09/25/22 as required. The DON indicated the facility was working on hiring more RN staff.

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, patternF880Jun 6, 2024

  Based on observations, medical record review, staff interview, and policy review, the facility failed to maintain an infection prevention and control program to prevent the development and transmission of diseases and infections. This affected one of nine residents on enhanced barrier precautions (Resident #11), one of two residents receiving glucometer checks on the Brookside wing (Resident #15), and one of two residents reviewed for indwelling catheters (Resident #18). Findings include: 1. Review of the medical record for Resident #11 revealed an admitted [DATE] and diagnoses including dementia, diabetes, and alcoholic cirrhosis. The resident also had gastrostomy tube for nutrition. Observations of medication administration on 06/04/24 at 11:30 A.M. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, patternF812Feb 22, 2023

  Based on observation and staff interview, the facility failed to prepare, distribute and serve food in a sanitary environment. This had the potential to affect all residents except one (Resident #71) resident who receives their nutrition by other means. The census was 87. Findings include: On 02/22/23 at 9:30 A.M. to 9:45 A.M. tour of the kitchen With Dietary Personal #136 revealed the following: 1. The steam table, convection oven and the stove with a brown substance and dried food debris. 2. Twelve pans stacked on a shelf with food debris on them. 3. Three drawers across from the can opener with food debris. 4. A cart parked at end of the steam table with trays and a puddle of water under the trays. 5. The sugar container with a cup used to scoop out the sugar, stored in it. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, patternF692Oct 4, 2022

  Based on observation, record review, review of current resident diet orders maintained by the facility kitchen, review of meal tickets and interview, the facility failed to ensure residents received fortified foods as ordered and/or failed to ensure fluids were readily available to maintain hydration. This affected three residents (#13, #50 and #64) of four residents reviewed for nutrition and one resident (#30) of one resident reviewed for hydration. Findings Include: 1. A review of Resident #13's medical record revealed the resident was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with the diagnoses [MEDICAL RECORD OR PHYSICIAN ORDER] . […]