Not rated by CMS — ratings are suppressed for new or low-volume facilities.
The next survey window likely opens around December 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 Nhc Healthcare - Bluffton during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
A deficiency was cited when a facility area was not kept free from accident hazards and adequate supervision was not provided to prevent accidents. The report notes insufficient hazard identification and lack of proper monitoring in the affected area.
The facility failed to properly label, store, and dispose of food items in the refrigerator, freezer, and dry storage areas, as observed during a tour. Several food items were found opened, undated, or expired, posing a potential risk for foodborne illnesses. Interviews with the CDM, dietary staff, and the Regional Dietician revealed that while audits are conducted and staff are expected to follow procedures, issues with labeling and dating have been identified previously.
The facility failed to manage and store medications properly, with expired medications found in storage areas and a medication cart left unlocked and unattended. An LPN confirmed the presence of expired medications and improper labeling, while the DON emphasized the importance of securing medication carts.
A facility failed to properly store and label a nasal respiratory inhaler for a resident with chronic respiratory conditions. The inhaler was observed uncovered and unlabeled on multiple occasions, despite the facility's policy requiring proper storage. Interviews with staff confirmed the oversight, highlighting a deficiency in adhering to respiratory care protocols.
Failure to Maintain Accident-Free Environment and Adequate Supervision
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified due to the failure to ensure that a nursing home area was free from accident hazards and that adequate supervision was provided to prevent accidents. The report notes that the environment did not meet safety standards, which could contribute to accidents occurring within the facility. Specific actions or inactions leading to this deficiency include the lack of proper hazard identification and insufficient monitoring or supervision of the area in question. No additional details about specific residents, their medical history, or their condition at the time of the deficiency are provided in the report.
Deficient Food Storage and Labeling Practices
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure proper labeling, storage, and disposal of food items in the refrigerator, freezer, and dry storage areas, as observed during an initial tour. Several food items, including smoked turkey lunch meat, roast beef sliced meat, diced ham, bacon bits, mozzarella cheese, strawberries, and ground beef, were found opened and undated in the walk-in refrigerator. Additionally, a bag of cauliflower florets in the freezer was opened and undated. In the dry storage area, items such as Coleman's mustard, red food color, egg noodles, cocoa powder, light brown sugar, sliced almonds, baking powder, and fried crisps onions were either expired, opened, or undated. The spice rack also contained expired lemon pepper seasoning and ground all spice. Large containers of self-rising flour, all-purpose flour, cane sugar, and parboiled rice were undated. Interviews with the Certified Dietary Manager (CDM), Dietary staff, and the Regional Dietician revealed that monthly audits are conducted to identify deficiencies, and staff are expected to label and date food items appropriately. However, the CDM acknowledged that labeling and dating issues had been identified in audits previously. The Facility Administrator emphasized the importance of following policy and procedure for storage, labeling, and dating of items in the kitchen, and stated that sanitation audits are conducted by the CDM, with education provided to staff. Despite these measures, the facility's failure to adhere to proper food storage and labeling practices was evident, posing a potential risk for foodborne illnesses.
Medication Management and Storage Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure proper medication management and storage across multiple units, leading to several deficiencies. On one unit, an ice cream bar was found in the medication room freezer, and expired medications, including an Influenza Vaccine and Acetaminophen suppositories, were observed in the refrigerator. The Licensed Practical Nurse Unit Manager confirmed the presence of expired medications and acknowledged that staff food should not be stored in the medication room. Additionally, on another unit, a medication cart contained a bottle with unknown tablets lacking a pharmacy label and a bottle of Aller-Zyr that was expired. The LPN confirmed these issues, acknowledging the lack of proper labeling and the presence of expired medication. Further deficiencies were noted on a different unit where expired treatment items, such as Nystatin cream and Hydrofera Blue dressings, were found on a treatment cart. The Registered Nurse confirmed that expired items should not be present. Additionally, a medication cart was observed unlocked and unattended, with several residents nearby, which was confirmed by an LPN who admitted to forgetting to lock it. The Director of Nurses emphasized the importance of locking medication carts when unattended and noted that while nurses and managers regularly check the carts, they may overlook smaller items.
Improper Storage and Labeling of Respiratory Inhaler
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to properly store and label a nasal respiratory inhaler for a resident, identified as R44, who was admitted with diagnoses including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and dependence on supplemental oxygen. The resident's care plan included interventions for oxygen use, specifying that tubing, bag, and humidifier bottle should be changed weekly and as needed. However, during observations, the resident's nasal nebulizer inhaler was found uncovered and without a label on the bedside table and later on the bed, exposed and not in use. Interviews with facility staff revealed a lack of adherence to proper storage protocols for the inhaler. An LPN acknowledged the missing label, and the DON confirmed that oxygen nebulizers should be covered. Despite the facility's policy on oxygen administration, the inhaler remained improperly stored, indicating a deficiency in following established procedures for respiratory care and services.
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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.
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Nursing homes near Okatie
How nearby facilities compare on the same public inspection record.
| Facility | Distance | Overall rating | Citations, 12 mo | Serious (J–L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sprenger Healthcare Of Bluffton | 1.5 mi | — | 0 | 0 |
| Broad Creek Care Center | 12.3 mi | — | 1 | 1 |
| The Preston Health Center | 12.7 mi | — | 0 | 0 |
| Fraser Health Center | 13.9 mi | — | 0 | 0 |
| Life Care Center Of Hilton Head | 14 mi | — | 0 | 0 |
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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.