PlainNursing
CMS Nursing Home Compare · August 2026

Eckerd Living Center

250 Hospital Drive, Highlands, NC 28741

Eckerd Living Center, a 80-bed for profit - partnership nursing facility in Highlands, NC, holds a 5-star CMS overall rating - well above the 3.0-star national average, ranking #53 of 415 rated homes in NC on CMS overall stars (with health+staffing+quality tie-breaks), with nurse staffing above the national norm. No recent finding reached the actual-harm level.

CMS combines health inspections, nurse-staffing levels, and clinical quality measures into the overall star rating, read the components below; they often tell a sharper story than the headline.

Phone: 8285261315

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5 / 5
Much above average · CMS overall · nat'l 3.0
#53 of 415
In-state rank among rated NC homes
4.35
Above average · nurse hrs/day · nat'l 3.86
7
Inspection findings

The verdict

Eckerd Living Center, a 80-bed for profit - partnership nursing facility in Highlands, NC, holds a 5-star CMS overall rating - well above the 3.0-star national average, ranking #53 of 415 rated homes in NC on CMS overall stars (with health+staffing+quality tie-breaks), with nurse staffing above the national norm. No recent finding reached the actual-harm level.

5 / 5
CMS overall · national 3.0
#53 of 415
In-state rank among rated NC homes
4.35
Nurse hrs/resident-day · national 3.86
7
Inspection findings on file

CMS force-curves overall stars within each state; read health, staffing, and quality sub-ratings alongside the headline.

In-state ownership mix · peer inventory

How 419 NC nursing homes split by ownership sector

This facility is recorded as For profit - Partnership. Sector buckets collapse CMS ownership_type into For-profit, Nonprofit, and Government, orthogonal to the RN/LPN/CNA hour bar below.

Health Inspection

4/5

Staffing

5/5

Quality Measures

3/5

Long-Stay Quality

2/5

Facility Information

Provider Number
345437
Ownership
For profit - Partnership
Provider Type
Medicare and Medicaid
Beds
80
Residents
45
In Hospital
Yes
County
Macon
Last Inspection
Apr 10, 2026

Staffing Data

How the 4.35 total nursing hours per resident-day are staffed:

RN Hours
1.16 (nat'l avg: 0.69)
LPN Hours
0.72
CNA Hours
2.47
Total Nursing Hours
4.35 (nat'l avg: 3.86)
PT Hours
0.31
Nursing Turnover
36.7%
RN Turnover
0.0%

What the CMS Record Reveals About Eckerd Living Center

According to CMS Nursing Home Compare, Eckerd Living Center ranks #53 of 415 rated nursing homes in NC on overall stars (tie-broken by health+staffing+quality, then fewer fines). Eckerd Living Center operates 80 certified beds in Highlands, NC with approximately 45 residents currently in care, and carries a CMS overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars (health inspection 4★ · staffing 5★ · quality 3★).

The inspection file contains 7 deficiency records from recent surveys, all falling in the no-harm or minimal-harm bands of the CMS scope-and-severity grid. This provider's enforcement record shows no fines or payment denials to date. Reported nurse staffing runs 4.35 total hours per resident day (national average 3.86); RN hours specifically are 1.16 per resident day.

Classified as "For profit - Partnership" ownership and operating as a "Medicare and Medicaid" provider embedded within a hospital campus, Eckerd Living Center falls into a category where comparative context matters. Reported nursing staff turnover at this facility is 36.7% (CMS payroll-based measure).

Why sub-scores and the CMS methodology matter

The overall score is a composite of three weighted sub-ratings published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: health inspection results, staffing levels, and quality measures. Because CMS caps the overall score at the health-inspection tier and then adjusts up or down based on staffing and quality, the sub-scores often tell a sharper story than the headline star count alone, a 3-star facility with weak inspection history reads differently from one held back by thin staffing.

National research consistently shows that ownership structure, staffing hours, and turnover are the three operational levers that correlate most strongly with resident outcomes, ratings and fines are lagging indicators of those upstream choices. The staffing metric in particular is the one most strongly tied to resident outcomes in peer-reviewed literature.

For families evaluating this facility, the CMS record should be read alongside a site visit, direct conversation with current residents and their families, and review of the state health department's most recent inspection report, the star rating is a starting point, not a verdict. All data on this page is sourced from CMS Provider Data and the Nursing Home Compare program; always verify the same record on Medicare.gov Care Compare and with the facility or your state survey agency before making placement decisions.

Deficiency History (7 most recent)

D - Isolated - Minimal harm Apr 10, 2026 Tag: 0712

Ensure that the resident and his/her doctor meet face-to-face at all required visits.

Category: Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies

Corrected: Apr 23, 2026

D - Isolated - Minimal harm Apr 10, 2026 Tag: 0645

PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities

Category: Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

Corrected: Apr 23, 2026

D - Isolated - Minimal harm Apr 10, 2026 Tag: 0628

Provide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.

Category: Resident Rights Deficiencies

Corrected: Apr 23, 2026

D - Isolated - Minimal harm Apr 10, 2026 Tag: 0552

Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.

Category: Resident Rights Deficiencies

Corrected: Apr 23, 2026

E - Pattern - Minimal harm Feb 19, 2025 Tag: 0814

Dispose of garbage and refuse properly.

Category: Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies

Corrected: Mar 6, 2025

F - Widespread - Minimal harm Feb 19, 2025 Tag: 0812

Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Category: Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies

Corrected: Mar 6, 2025

F - Widespread - Minimal harm Sep 28, 2023 Tag: 0851

Electronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data.

Category: Administration Deficiencies

Corrected: Oct 19, 2023

Quality Measures

Measure Type Score Used in Rating
Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased Long Stay 15.8% Yes
Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay 2.3% Yes
Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay 0.7% Yes
Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay 5.3% Yes
Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened Long Stay 22.8% Yes
Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay 9.3% Yes
Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay 21.2% Yes
Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication Short Stay 3.0% Yes
Percentage of long-stay residents who lose too much weight Long Stay 6.0% No
Percentage of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms Long Stay 1.5% No
Percentage of long-stay residents who were physically restrained Long Stay 0.0% No
Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine Long Stay 96.0% No
Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antianxiety or hypnotic medication Long Stay 23.9% No
Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine Long Stay 97.7% No
Percentage of long-stay residents with new or worsened bowel or bladder incontinence Long Stay 22.3% No
Percentage of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine Short Stay 85.2% No
Percentage of short-stay residents who were assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine Short Stay 80.0% No

Penalty History

No penalties on record.

Nationwide facilities with similar scale or staffing

Two data-derived peer sets for Eckerd Living Center, both outside NC so the neighborhoods are not the same-state geography list below.

What the CMS records show for Eckerd Living Center

The health, staffing, and quality sub-ratings above often diverge from the CMS overall headline. Use those components and the inspection findings to read the full file, not the overall star alone.

  • The NC registry aggregates state averages and the highest-rated homes in this cohort. View NC registry
  • Peer homes near 80 beds show how CMS stars vary at a similar scale in NC. Compare a similar-size peer
  • CMS publishes separate fields for inspections, nurse staffing hours, and quality measures; the guide explains how each star is computed. How CMS ratings work

CMS refreshes Nursing Home Compare quarterly (current extract: August 2026). PlainNursing describes published records; it does not establish suitability, availability, admissions, or individual outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall CMS rating for Eckerd Living Center?
Eckerd Living Center has an overall CMS rating of 5 out of 5 stars. This rating combines health inspection results (4★), staffing levels (5★), and quality measures (3★).
Where does Eckerd Living Center rank among nursing homes in NC?
According to CMS Nursing Home Compare overall stars (with health+staffing+quality tie-breaks, then fewer fines), Eckerd Living Center ranks 53rd among 415 rated nursing homes in NC (#53 of 415). CMS force-curves the overall star within each state, so this peer set is the honest comparison.
What are the staffing levels at Eckerd Living Center?
Eckerd Living Center reports 4.35 total nursing hours per resident day (national average: 3.86). RN hours are 1.16 per resident day (national average: 0.69). Nursing staff turnover is 36.7%.
How many beds does Eckerd Living Center have?
Eckerd Living Center has 80 certified beds with approximately 45 residents. The facility is located at 250 Hospital Drive, Highlands, NC 28741.
Does Eckerd Living Center have any deficiencies on record?
Yes, Eckerd Living Center has 7 deficiencies on record from recent inspections. Most deficiencies are classified as no harm or minimal harm.
Has Eckerd Living Center received any fines or penalties?
No, Eckerd Living Center has no fines or penalties on record.
Who owns Eckerd Living Center?
Eckerd Living Center is classified as "For profit - Partnership" ownership. The facility type is "Medicare and Medicaid" and is located within a hospital.
When was Eckerd Living Center last inspected?
The most recent health inspection for Eckerd Living Center was on Apr 10, 2026. The facility received a health inspection rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
What quality measures are tracked for Eckerd Living Center?
Eckerd Living Center is evaluated on 17 quality measures, of which 8 are used in the CMS star rating calculation. These include measures for both long-stay and short-stay residents covering areas like infections, falls, pressure ulcers, and medication use.
Data Sources

Data source: CMS Nursing Home Compare. Ratings, staffing, deficiency, quality measure, and penalty data are from CMS Provider Data. For informational purposes only. Verify the same CCN on Medicare.gov Care Compare and with the facility or your state health department.

Source: CMS Nursing Home Compare provider data (data.cms.gov). See our methodology for how this page is compiled. Ratings, staffing, health-inspection deficiency, and Civil Money Penalty records are published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services under a public-domain (CC0) license.

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