Safety Report: Hickory Creek of Athens
How to read this report. Every nursing home receives some citations. One citation does not mean a facility is unsafe. Look at how serious the findings were, whether the same problems keep coming back, and whether things are getting better or worse. Learn how inspections work.
Official ratings
Medicare's star ratings compare nursing homes within the same state for health inspections. A 5-star facility performed better than most in its state; a 1-star facility performed worse than most.
Stars are calculated by CMS, not by us. We do not create our own safety score.
Serious documented violations
0Immediate jeopardy citations (severity J–L)
1Actual harm citations (severity G–I)
4Requirements cited on more than one inspection
G
Government finding: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F684
Citations by topic
0Abuse, neglect & exploitation
3Infection control
3Medications & pharmacy
2Accidents & supervision
Topics use CMS's own deficiency categories; “accidents & supervision” counts tag F689 (free of accident hazards / adequate supervision). Counts cover the last three inspection cycles, including complaint investigations.
Is it getting better or worse?
Fewer citations in the most recent cycle (3) than in the cycle before (8).
An inspection cycle is roughly one year and includes the standard inspection plus complaint investigations. Counts depend partly on how many complaint investigations occurred, so treat small changes with caution. Red bars include at least one serious citation.
Staffing and rating trends will appear as we collect monthly CMS releases. We have one month so far, so a staffing trend cannot yet be determined.
Repeat findings
These requirements were cited on more than one inspection date in the last three cycles.
| Requirement | Times cited | Inspection dates |
|---|---|---|
| Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals. (F684) | 2 | August 11, 2025; October 4, 2022 |
| Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. (F880) | 2 | August 11, 2025; June 6, 2024 |
| Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (F689) | 2 | June 6, 2024; October 4, 2022 |
| Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed. (F644) | 2 | June 6, 2024; October 4, 2022 |
Fines and enforcement
No federal fines or payment denials in the last three years.
Federal civil money penalties and Medicare/Medicaid payment denials. State-level penalties may not be included.
Complete inspection history
August 11, 2025 — 3 citations (includes serious)
G
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Actual harm to a resident (not immediate jeopardy) · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F684 · corrected August 18, 2025
D
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Infection Control Deficiencies · F880 · corrected August 18, 2025
D
Ensure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · F757 · corrected August 18, 2025
August 5, 2024 — 1 citation · complaint investigation
D
Ensure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F740 · complaint · corrected August 9, 2024
June 6, 2024 — 8 citations
E
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Infection Control Deficiencies · F880 · corrected August 9, 2024
D
Implement a program that monitors antibiotic use.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Infection Control Deficiencies · F881 · corrected August 9, 2024
D
Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · F756 · corrected August 9, 2024
D
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F689 · corrected August 9, 2024
D
Assist a resident in gaining access to vision and hearing services.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F685 · corrected August 9, 2024
D
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · F656 · corrected August 9, 2024
D
Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · F644 · corrected August 9, 2024
D
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · F641 · corrected August 9, 2024
October 4, 2022 — 12 citations
F
Have a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Widespread · Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies · F727 · corrected October 19, 2022
E
Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · F758 · corrected October 19, 2022
E
Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F692 · corrected October 19, 2022
D
Try different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F700 · corrected October 19, 2022
D
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F695 · corrected October 19, 2022
D
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F689 · corrected October 19, 2022
D
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F686 · corrected October 19, 2022
D
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F684 · corrected October 19, 2022
D
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F677 · corrected October 19, 2022
D
Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · F644 · corrected October 19, 2022
D
Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Rights Deficiencies · F583 · corrected October 19, 2022
D
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Rights Deficiencies · F550 · corrected October 19, 2022
Source: CMS Health Deficiencies dataset (data as of October 1, 2026); full inspection narratives on Medicare Care Compare