Not rated by CMS — ratings are suppressed for new or low-volume facilities.
The next survey window likely opens around October 2026
Estimate from public CMS data, current as of June 2026. Survey timing is at the state agency's discretion.
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Highlands, The during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
Two residents in the facility did not receive their prescribed medications as ordered, leading to deficiencies in medication administration. One resident with GERD did not receive Pantoprazole Sodium Oral Suspension on multiple occasions, despite it being available in the refrigerator. Another resident with osteoarthritis did not receive Lidocaine Patches for pain management, even though the patches were in stock. Staff failed to notify the physician of missed doses and did not adhere to the facility's medication administration policies.
A facility failed to develop a comprehensive care plan for a resident readmitted after a brief discharge. Despite the resident's complex medical conditions, no new care plan was created upon readmission, as required by facility policy. Interviews revealed the care plan was deleted upon discharge, and the oversight persisted for over a month.
A resident with an indwelling urinary catheter was not provided care according to professional standards, as the catheter was changed routinely without clinical indications, contrary to CDC guidelines and facility policy. Additionally, the prescribed antibiotic, Levaquin, was not administered prior to catheter changes as ordered, which was intended to prevent UTIs. The Unit Manager confirmed the oversight in medication administration.
The facility failed to maintain sanitary conditions in two nourishment kitchens. On the Fifth Floor, a toaster had a buildup of crumbs and a butter packet wrapper, while on the Third Floor, the ice machine had dried debris and rust. Despite daily cleaning claims, there was no specific cleaning policy or schedule, leading to unsanitary conditions.
A resident over the age of 65 with dementia, COPD, and emphysema did not receive the PCV20 vaccination despite having a signed consent and a physician's order. The facility's policy required adherence to CDC guidelines and obtaining consent, but the vaccine was not administered, as confirmed by a corporate nurse. This oversight put the resident at risk for facility-acquired pneumonia.
A facility failed to accurately code the MDS for a resident, indicating a discharge to a short-term hospital instead of home. This error was confirmed through a review of the resident's progress notes and discharge summary, and acknowledged by the MDS Nurse.
Medication Administration Deficiencies for Two Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to administer medications according to professional standards of practice for two residents, leading to deficiencies in medication administration. Resident #51, diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and dementia, did not receive the prescribed Pantoprazole Sodium Oral Suspension on multiple occasions in June and July 2024. The medication was available in the refrigerator, but staff failed to administer it and did not notify the physician of the missed doses, as required by the facility's policy. Similarly, Resident #13, who has osteoarthritis and dementia, did not receive the prescribed Lidocaine External Patches for pain management on several occasions from March to June 2024. The facility's records indicated that the patches were either pending arrival or unavailable, yet the patches were observed to be in stock in the facility's Central Supply storage room. Staff failed to document the reasons for the missed doses and did not take appropriate actions to ensure the medication was administered as ordered. Interviews with facility staff, including the Unit Manager and Nurse #1, revealed that the medications were indeed available but were not administered due to oversight. The Director of Nursing confirmed that the facility's policies regarding medication administration and missed doses were not adhered to by the nursing staff, contributing to the deficiencies identified during the survey.
Failure to Implement Comprehensive Care Plan for Readmitted Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop and implement a comprehensive person-centered care plan for a resident who was readmitted after a brief discharge. The facility's policy requires that a comprehensive care plan be developed within seven days after the completion of a comprehensive assessment. However, upon the resident's readmission in June 2024, no evidence was found that a new care plan was created, despite the resident's complex medical conditions, including diabetes, asthma, and congestive heart failure. Interviews with the MDS Nurse revealed that the resident's care plan was deleted from the medical record upon discharge, and the resident was classified as an interrupted stay due to the short duration of the discharge. The MDS Nurse acknowledged that a comprehensive person-centered care plan should have been in place immediately upon the resident's readmission to ensure proper care and services. The absence of a care plan persisted from mid-June to late July 2024, indicating a significant oversight in the facility's care planning process.
Failure to Follow Catheter Care Protocols and Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide care and services according to professional standards for a resident with an indwelling urinary catheter, who was at risk for developing a urinary tract infection (UTI). The staff did not change the catheter based on clinical indications such as infection, obstruction, or a compromised closed system, as recommended by the CDC guidelines and the facility's own policy. Instead, the catheter was changed routinely on specific dates without documented clinical indications for these changes. Additionally, the facility staff failed to administer the prescribed antibiotic, Levaquin, to the resident prior to the catheter changes as ordered by the physician. The medication was intended to be given a few hours before each catheter change to help prevent infections, but records show that it was not administered on the specified dates before the catheter changes. The Unit Manager confirmed the oversight and acknowledged that the resident should have received the antibiotic as ordered to prevent UTIs.
Sanitation Deficiencies in Facility's Nourishment Kitchens
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain safe and sanitary conditions in two nourishment kitchens, specifically on the Fifth Floor and the Third Floor (Garden Terrace). On the Fifth Floor, a toaster was observed with a buildup of crumbs and a butter packet wrapper inside, indicating a lack of proper cleaning and maintenance. Despite daily cleaning claims by the Housekeeping Supervisor, there was no specific policy for cleaning kitchenettes, and the issue persisted throughout the day. On the Third Floor, the ice machine in the Garden Terrace Unit nourishment kitchen was found in unsanitary conditions. The water and ice dispenser had dried white debris, rust, and crusty buildup on various parts, including the grate, drain pan, and spout. The Housekeeping Supervisor acknowledged the lack of a written cleaning schedule or logs and admitted that the dispenser had not been cleaned thoroughly, which could lead to bacterial growth. Staff used this dispenser daily to provide residents with ice and water, highlighting the importance of maintaining cleanliness.
Failure to Administer Pneumococcal Vaccination
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to offer a Pneumococcal Vaccination to a resident, identified as Resident #51, who was over the age of 65 and had a history of dementia, COPD, and emphysema. Despite having a consent form signed for the Pneumococcal Vaccination in August 2021 and a physician's order in July 2024 to administer the vaccine per CDC guidelines, the resident did not receive the PCV20 vaccination. This oversight was confirmed during an interview with Corporate Nurse #1, who acknowledged the absence of evidence in the clinical record indicating that the resident had received the required vaccination. The facility's policy, dated September 2023, required adherence to CDC recommendations for Pneumococcal Vaccination timing and mandated that education be provided to the resident or their representative, with a signed consent form. However, the facility did not follow through with the administration of the vaccine, as indicated by the lack of documentation in the resident's clinical record. This failure to administer the vaccine put the resident at risk for developing facility-acquired pneumonia.
Inaccurate MDS Coding for Resident Discharge
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the Minimum Data Set (MDS) was accurately coded to reflect the status of a resident. Specifically, the MDS inaccurately indicated that the resident was discharged to a short-term hospital, while the resident was actually discharged home. This discrepancy was identified through a review of the resident's Nurses Progress Note and Discharge Summary assessment, both of which confirmed the resident's discharge home. During an interview, the MDS Nurse acknowledged the error, stating that the MDS had been inaccurately coded.
What surveyors are citing around you — mapped
All 10 risk areas, ranked with evidence
Repeat citations, what's rising near you, and quality measures — ranked so department heads know exactly where to look first.
Illustrative
What surveyors actually found near you
We read the 277 citations issued within 25 miles in the last 12 months — including the 1 immediate-jeopardy cases — and tell you exactly what happened, in plain English, matched to your record.
Resident with a documented fall history left unattended on the patio; found on the ground with a hip fracture.
Walk-in cooler logs missing for 12 days; expired supplements in the medication room fridge.
Illustrative
A prioritized, do-first checklist
Every risk area becomes concrete audit steps drawn from real citations at facilities like yours — run them this week, before your window opens.
Illustrative
Risk indicators are statistical estimates from public CMS data — not predictions, findings, or compliance advice.
Nursing homes near Fitchburg
How nearby facilities compare on the same public inspection record.
| Facility | Distance | Overall rating | Citations, 12 mo | Serious (J–L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitchburg Healthcare | 0.8 mi | — | 17 | 0 |
| Fitchburg Rehabilitation And Nursing Center | 1.8 mi | — | 0 | 0 |
| Keystone Center | 4.5 mi | — | 6 | 0 |
| Life Care Center Of Leominster | 4.6 mi | — | 1 | 0 |
| Wachusett Manor | 8.7 mi | — | 8 | 0 |
Every risk area ranked, a do-first checklist, and your local survey patterns
Built specifically for Highlands, The.
100% money-back within 48 hours.
Trusted data, never guesswork. Every citation, penalty, rating and Plan of Correction on this page is sourced from public CMS records (latest release August 2026) and official state health department websites.