PlainNursing
CMS Nursing Home Compare · August 2026

Kirkwood by the River

3605 Ratliff Road, Birmingham, AL 35210

Kirkwood by the River, a 61-bed non profit - corporation nursing facility in Birmingham, AL, holds a 3-star CMS overall rating - right around the 3.0-star national average, ranking #136 of 223 rated homes in AL on CMS overall stars (with health+staffing+quality tie-breaks). 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: 2059562184

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3 / 5
Average · CMS overall · nat'l 3.0
#136 of 223
In-state rank among rated AL homes
N/A
nurse hrs/day · nat'l 3.86
8
Inspection findings

The verdict

Kirkwood by the River, a 61-bed non profit - corporation nursing facility in Birmingham, AL, holds a 3-star CMS overall rating - right around the 3.0-star national average, ranking #136 of 223 rated homes in AL on CMS overall stars (with health+staffing+quality tie-breaks). No recent finding reached the actual-harm level.

3 / 5
CMS overall · national 3.0
#136 of 223
In-state rank among rated AL homes
N/A
Nurse hrs/resident-day · national 3.86
8
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 224 AL nursing homes split by ownership sector

This facility is recorded as Non profit - Corporation. 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

1/5

Quality Measures

2/5

Long-Stay Quality

3/5

Facility Information

Provider Number
015457
Ownership
Non profit - Corporation
Provider Type
Medicare
Beds
61
Residents
54
In Hospital
No
County
Jefferson
Last Inspection
Oct 7, 2021

Staffing Data

RN Hours
N/A (nat'l avg: 0.69)
LPN Hours
N/A
CNA Hours
N/A
Total Nursing Hours
N/A (nat'l avg: 3.86)
PT Hours
N/A
Nursing Turnover
35.8%
RN Turnover
33.3%

What the CMS Record Reveals About Kirkwood by the River

According to CMS Nursing Home Compare, Kirkwood by the River ranks #136 of 223 rated nursing homes in AL on overall stars (tie-broken by health+staffing+quality, then fewer fines). Kirkwood by the River operates 61 certified beds in Birmingham, AL with approximately 54 residents currently in care, and carries a CMS overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars (health inspection 4★ · staffing 1★ · quality 2★).

The inspection file contains 8 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.

Classified as "Non profit - Corporation" ownership and operating as a "Medicare" provider, Kirkwood by the River falls into a category where comparative context matters. Reported nursing staff turnover at this facility is 35.8% (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 (8 most recent)

D - Isolated - Minimal harm Oct 7, 2021 Tag: 0880

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Category: Infection Control Deficiencies

Corrected: Nov 11, 2021

D - Isolated - Minimal harm Mar 28, 2019 Tag: 0880

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Category: Infection Control Deficiencies

Corrected: May 2, 2019

F - Widespread - Minimal harm Mar 28, 2019 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: May 2, 2019

D - Isolated - Minimal harm Mar 22, 2018 Tag: 0880

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Category: Infection Control Deficiencies

Corrected: Apr 24, 2018

D - Isolated - Minimal harm Mar 22, 2018 Tag: 0686

Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.

Category: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Corrected: Apr 24, 2018

D - Isolated - Minimal harm Mar 22, 2018 Tag: 0659

Provide care by qualified persons according to each resident's written plan of care.

Category: Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

Corrected: Apr 24, 2018

D - Isolated - Minimal harm Mar 22, 2018 Tag: 0658

Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.

Category: Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

Corrected: Apr 24, 2018

D - Isolated - Minimal harm Mar 22, 2018 Tag: 0550

Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.

Category: Resident Rights Deficiencies

Corrected: Apr 24, 2018

Quality Measures

Measure Type Score Used in Rating
Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased Long Stay 16.0% Yes
Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay 0.4% Yes
Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay 4.4% Yes
Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay 6.2% Yes
Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened Long Stay N/A Yes
Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay 4.7% Yes
Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay 39.0% Yes
Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication Short Stay 1.9% Yes
Percentage of long-stay residents who lose too much weight Long Stay 8.8% No
Percentage of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms Long Stay 0.0% 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 100.0% No
Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antianxiety or hypnotic medication Long Stay 40.0% No
Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine Long Stay 98.0% No
Percentage of long-stay residents with new or worsened bowel or bladder incontinence Long Stay 10.6% No
Percentage of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine Short Stay 100.0% No
Percentage of short-stay residents who were assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine Short Stay 98.4% No

Penalty History

No penalties on record.

Nationwide facilities with similar scale or staffing

Two data-derived peer sets for Kirkwood by the River, both outside AL so the neighborhoods are not the same-state geography list below.

What the CMS records show for Kirkwood by the River

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 AL registry aggregates state averages and the highest-rated homes in this cohort. View AL registry
  • Peer homes near 61 beds show how CMS stars vary at a similar scale in AL. 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 Kirkwood by the River?
Kirkwood by the River has an overall CMS rating of 3 out of 5 stars. This rating combines health inspection results (4★), staffing levels (1★), and quality measures (2★).
Where does Kirkwood by the River rank among nursing homes in AL?
According to CMS Nursing Home Compare overall stars (with health+staffing+quality tie-breaks, then fewer fines), Kirkwood by the River ranks 136th among 223 rated nursing homes in AL (#136 of 223). CMS force-curves the overall star within each state, so this peer set is the honest comparison.
How many beds does Kirkwood by the River have?
Kirkwood by the River has 61 certified beds with approximately 54 residents. The facility is located at 3605 Ratliff Road, Birmingham, AL 35210.
Does Kirkwood by the River have any deficiencies on record?
Yes, Kirkwood by the River has 8 deficiencies on record from recent inspections. Most deficiencies are classified as no harm or minimal harm.
Has Kirkwood by the River received any fines or penalties?
No, Kirkwood by the River has no fines or penalties on record.
Who owns Kirkwood by the River?
Kirkwood by the River is classified as "Non profit - Corporation" ownership. The facility type is "Medicare".
When was Kirkwood by the River last inspected?
The most recent health inspection for Kirkwood by the River was on Oct 7, 2021. The facility received a health inspection rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
What quality measures are tracked for Kirkwood by the River?
Kirkwood by the River 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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