Harbor Healthcare of Ironton
1050 Clinton Street, Ironton, OH 45638 · Lawrence County · 125 certified beds · avg 115 residents/day · certified since Sep 29, 1981
Part of chain: ECC TRUST (3 facilities, chain avg rating 3.7★)
What health inspectors found (on-site government inspections — the most independent evidence available)
Health inspection rating: ★★★☆☆3/5 · CMS overall rating: 4/5
The health inspection star above is graded on a curve within each state — a set share of each state's facilities gets each star level — so a facility can have few citations and still rate 2–3 stars if others in its state did even better. The overall rating combines that inspection score with staffing and self-reported quality measures.
Most serious findings (actual harm or immediate jeopardy)
▲ Immediate jeopardy, one-off · Apr 10, 2023 · F-0624
The facility did not properly prepare residents for a safe transfer or discharge. Before a resident leaves, the facility must get them ready and make sure the move is safe and orderly.
Why it matters: An unprepared discharge can send a resident somewhere unsafe or without the care arrangements they need.
Severity (J): Inspectors found a situation that put a resident's life or safety in immediate danger, affecting one or a few residents. The facility must fix it immediately — these citations often come with large fines.
Corrected: May 24, 2023 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)
▲ Actual harm, one-off · Apr 10, 2023 · F-0689
The facility did not keep the environment free of accident hazards, or did not provide enough supervision to prevent accidents like falls.
Why it matters: This is one of the most common citations and directly relates to falls and injuries, which can be devastating for older adults.
Severity (G): One or a few residents were actually harmed — physically or emotionally — though not put in immediate danger of serious injury or death.
Corrected: May 24, 2023 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)
All citations in the current public record (34)
CMS publishes roughly the last three inspection cycles plus recent complaint investigations. Older surveys drop out of the record as new ones are completed.
| Date | Severity | What the facility was cited for |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 30, 2025 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not give residents (and their representatives and the ombudsman, a state advocate for residents) proper advance notice before a transfer or discharge, including information about their right to appeal. |
| Jan 30, 2025 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not develop or follow a complete care plan for each resident — the written roadmap covering all of a resident's needs, with measurable goals and timelines. |
| Apr 10, 2023 | ▲ J · Immediate jeopardy, one-off | The facility did not properly prepare residents for a safe transfer or discharge. Before a resident leaves, the facility must get them ready and make sure the move is safe and orderly. |
| Apr 10, 2023 | ▲ G · Actual harm, one-off | The facility did not keep the environment free of accident hazards, or did not provide enough supervision to prevent accidents like falls. |
| Apr 10, 2023 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | The facility did not accurately assess a resident's health and needs. Assessments are the foundation for all the care a resident receives. |
| Apr 10, 2023 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | The facility did not develop or follow a complete care plan for each resident — the written roadmap covering all of a resident's needs, with measurable goals and timelines. |
| Apr 10, 2023 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | The facility did not have a working program to monitor how antibiotics are used. Tracking antibiotic use helps make sure these drugs are given only when needed and remain effective. |
| Apr 10, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not give residents proper notice about what Medicare or Medicaid covers, or about charges the resident might owe for services that aren't covered. |
| Apr 10, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not coordinate resident assessments with the state's pre-admission screening program for mental illness and intellectual disabilities, or failed to refer residents for the special services they need. |
| Apr 10, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not properly plan a resident's discharge to meet the resident's goals and needs after leaving. |
| Apr 10, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | When a resident had a planned discharge, the facility did not make sure the necessary information was communicated to the resident and to the doctors or facility taking over their care. |
| Apr 10, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not provide the help residents need with basic daily activities — like bathing, dressing, eating, and using the bathroom — for residents who cannot do these things on their own. |
| Apr 10, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not provide treatment and care that follows the doctor's orders and matches the resident's own preferences and goals. |
| Apr 10, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not provide the care needed to maintain or improve residents' movement and flexibility — such as range-of-motion exercises — leading to avoidable decline. |
| Apr 10, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not provide safe and appropriate respiratory care — such as oxygen, breathing treatments, or care for residents on breathing equipment — for residents who needed it. |
| Apr 10, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not provide pharmacy services that meet each resident's needs, or did not employ or contract with a licensed pharmacist. |
| Apr 10, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not have a licensed pharmacist review each resident's complete medication regimen and medical chart every month, or did not follow its own rules for reporting medication problems. |
| Apr 10, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not keep residents' medications free from unnecessary drugs. Residents should only take medicines they truly need, at the right dose, for a clear reason. |
| Apr 10, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not try to gradually reduce doses of mood- and mind-altering medications or use non-drug approaches first, as required, or used 'as needed' psychiatric drugs without proper limits. |
| Apr 10, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not keep residents free from significant medication errors — such as giving the wrong drug, the wrong dose, or missing a critical medication. |
| Apr 10, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not label drugs according to professional standards or did not store them in locked compartments, with controlled drugs (medications with a high risk of misuse) kept under a separate lock. |
| Apr 10, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not provide or arrange dental services for its residents. Nursing homes are responsible for making sure residents can get dental care. |
| Apr 10, 2023 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not protect residents' personal information or did not keep complete, accurate medical records that meet professional standards. |
| Feb 27, 2020 | F · Potential for harm, facility-wide | The facility did not get its food from approved, safe sources, or did not store, prepare, and serve food according to professional food safety standards. |
| Feb 27, 2020 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | The facility did not prepare and serve food in a form that meets each resident's individual needs — for example, chopped, pureed, or softened food for residents with chewing or swallowing problems. |
| Feb 27, 2020 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not immediately notify the resident, their doctor, and a family member when something significant happened — such as an injury, a decline in health, or a room change. Families and doctors are entitled to know right away. |
| Feb 27, 2020 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not provide activities that meet residents' needs and interests. Nursing homes must offer meaningful activity programs, not just leave residents idle. |
| Feb 27, 2020 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not provide treatment and care that follows the doctor's orders and matches the resident's own preferences and goals. |
| Feb 27, 2020 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not provide proper care for pressure ulcers (bedsores) or did not do enough to prevent new ones from forming. Bedsores develop when residents stay in one position too long without help moving. |
| Feb 27, 2020 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not provide safe and appropriate respiratory care — such as oxygen, breathing treatments, or care for residents on breathing equipment — for residents who needed it. |
| Feb 27, 2020 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not provide safe, appropriate care for residents who need dialysis — the treatment that filters the blood when kidneys fail. |
| Feb 27, 2020 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not serve food and drinks that were appetizing, attractive, and at a safe and pleasant temperature. |
| Feb 27, 2020 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not have or follow an effective program to prevent and control infections — such as proper hand washing, cleaning, and isolation practices. This is the most commonly cited deficiency nationwide. |
| Feb 27, 2020 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not keep its building and grounds safe, functional, clean, and comfortable for residents, staff, and visitors. |
Inspection trend by year
Citations from standard inspections decreased between the last two inspection cycles (21 → 2).
| Year | Citations | Serious (G–L) | Worst severity that year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 11 | 0 | F |
| 2023 | 21 | 2 | J ▲ |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | D |
Counts reflect the current CMS public record (~3 inspection cycles plus complaint investigations); years with no surveys show no row. Inspection frequency varies, so compare severity as well as counts.
Fines and enforcement (last 3 years)
No fines or payment denials in the published 3-year window.
Nurse staffing (from payroll records, adjusted for how much care residents need)
| Measure | This facility | Ohio avg | U.S. avg | Where it stands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nurse staffing (hours per resident per day) | 3.25 | 3.45 | 3.95 | bottom 44% in Ohio; bottom 24% in the U.S. |
| Registered Nurse hours | 0.47 | 0.60 | 0.69 | bottom 34% in Ohio; bottom 33% in the U.S. |
| Weekend total nurse staffing | 2.91 | 3.07 | 3.50 | bottom 47% in Ohio; bottom 26% in the U.S. |
| Weekend RN hours (not acuity-adjusted) | 0.31 | 0.42 | 0.48 | bottom 31% in Ohio; bottom 33% in the U.S. |
| Total nursing staff turnover (%) | 43.8 | 48.7 | 45.8 | top 37% in Ohio; top 47% in the U.S. |
| RN turnover (%) | 44.4 | 43.9 | 42.9 | bottom 49% in Ohio; bottom 45% in the U.S. |
Hours are per resident per day, case-mix adjusted by CMS so facilities caring for sicker residents can be compared fairly (same basis as the CMS staffing star). "Top X%" means better than most facilities: more staffing hours, or lower turnover. Raw (unadjusted) reported hours: total 3.82, RN 0.55, weekend 3.42. Staffing rating: 2/5.
Self-reported quality measures
Note: these ratings are based on data the facility reports about itself to CMS. They are not independently verified by inspectors, and can look better than inspection findings. Give more weight to the inspection results above.
Quality measures rating: 5/5 · long-stay residents: 5/5 · short-stay residents: 5/5
Who owns this facility
For profit - Corporation
| Owner / manager | Type | Role | Stake | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown, Ervin | Individual | 5% or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest | — | 01/01/2023 |
| Cox, Gretchen | Individual | 5% or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest | — | 01/01/2023 |
| Ecc Trust | Organization | 5% or Greater Direct Ownership Interest | 100% | 01/01/2023 |
| Arnold, Jeffrey | Individual | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 05/31/2017 |
| Brown, Jody | Individual | Managing Control - Governing Body | NOT APPLICABLE | 02/23/2023 |
| Brown, Jody | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 02/23/2023 |
| Brown, Jody | Individual | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 02/23/2023 |
| Carias, Katherine | Individual | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 05/24/2023 |
| Cox, Christopher | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 05/01/2023 |
| Cox, Christopher | Individual | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 05/01/2023 |
| Cox, Douglas | Individual | Individual Is an Owner, Partner or Trustee of Any ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 09/26/2025 |
| First Southern Bancorp, INC. | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 02/01/2017 |
| Hargis & Associates, LLC | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 02/01/2017 |
| Hargis, Forwood | Individual | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 02/01/2017 |
| Ironton Realco, LLC | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 05/31/2017 |
| McIntosh, Sarah | Individual | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 02/01/2017 |
| Mitchell, Gregory | Individual | Corporate Officer | NOT APPLICABLE | 02/01/2017 |
| Mitchell, Gregory | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 02/01/2017 |
| Mitchell, Gregory | Individual | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 02/01/2017 |
| Providence Health, LLC | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 04/08/2021 |
Questions to ask on your visit
Generated from this facility's actual citation record — bring them to a tour and ask the administrator directly.
- "What does your discharge planning process look like, and how are families involved before a move?"
- "What is your falls rate, and what specific steps do you take to prevent falls and supervise residents at risk?"
- "If you ever planned to discharge or transfer my family member, how much written notice would we receive and how could we appeal?"
- "Can you show me an example care plan, and how are families included when it's created and updated?"
- "Who completes resident assessments here, and how do you check them for accuracy?"
- "Who oversees antibiotic use here, and how do you decide when an antibiotic is really needed?"
- "Before any service that isn't covered by Medicare or Medicaid, how will you notify us and get our agreement?"
- "How do you identify and arrange specialized services for residents with mental health conditions or disabilities?"
- "What is your current ratio of nursing staff to residents on day, evening, and weekend shifts?"
- "Can I see the results and plan of correction from your most recent state inspection?"
Nearby facilities (within 20 miles)
| Facility | Distance | City | Overall | Inspection | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanctuary at Ohio Valley | 0.4 mi | Ironton, OH | ★★★★☆ | 4/5 | |
| Crystal Care of Coal Grove | 0.9 mi | Coal Grove, OH | ★★★☆☆ | 3/5 | |
| Woodland Oaks | 3.1 mi | Ashland, KY | ★★★★☆ | 4/5 | |
| Oakmont Manor | 3.3 mi | Flatwoods, KY | ★★★☆☆ | 3/5 | |
| Kingsbrook Lifecare Center | 5.2 mi | Ashland, KY | ★★★★☆ | 3/5 | |
| Wurtland Nursing and Rehabilitation | 7.6 mi | Wurtland, KY | ★☆☆☆☆ | 1/5 | |
| Riverview Post Acute | 10.0 mi | South Point, OH | ★★★☆☆ | 4/5 | |
| Boyd Nursing and Rehabilitation | 10.2 mi | Ashland, KY | ★★★☆☆ | 2/5 | |
| Madison Park Healthcare | 12.4 mi | Huntington, WV | ★★★★★ | 5/5 | |
| Crystal Care Center of Franklin Furnace | 13.1 mi | Franklin Furnace, OH | ★★★★★ | 5/5 | |
| Heritage Center | 14.2 mi | Huntington, WV | ★☆☆☆☆ | 1/5 | |
| Huntington Health and Rehabilitation Center | 14.5 mi | Huntington, WV | ★★☆☆☆ | 2/5 |
Compare this facility with the 3 closest →
Facility data as of CMS processing date 2026-08-01. CCN 365564.