Nursing HomeInspections

The Highlands

Nursing home in Fitchburg, MA

Medicare & Medicaid certified3★ overall (CMS)

Call (978) 343-4411Send a messageMap ↗

Public-record details

Address
335 Nichols Road, Fitchburg, MA 01420
Phone
(978) 343-4411
Listed under
For-profit, No fines in 3 years
Medicare CCN
225315
Overall star rating
3 of 5 ★★★☆☆
Health inspection rating
3 of 5
Staffing rating
3 of 5
Quality measures rating
4 of 5
Certified beds
168
Average residents per day
156
Ownership
For-profit, limited Liability company
Legal business name
Highlands Medical Investors LLC
Chain
Life Care Centers of America (194 facilities)
Certified for
Medicare and Medicaid
First approved by Medicare/Medicaid
Dec 8, 1988
Changed ownership in last 12 months
No
Continuing care retirement community
No
Located inside a hospital
No
Resident or family council
Resident and family councils
Sprinklers in all required areas
Yes

CMS certification number 225315. Source: CMS Nursing Home Provider Information, Health Deficiencies and Penalties (record). Data as of 2026-09-30.

Inspection record

Most recent standard health inspection: Nov 25, 2025. CMS lists 17 health citations for this facility across its last three standard inspection cycles and complaint inspections (Mar 20, 2023 to Nov 25, 2025): 0 from complaint inspections, 0 at the “actual harm” level or higher.

InspectionCitationSeverity
Nov 25, 2025Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning		D
Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Nov 25, 2025Ensure residents do not lose the ability to perform activities of daily living unless there is a medical reason.
Quality of Life and Care		D
Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Nov 25, 2025Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Quality of Life and Care		D
Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Nov 25, 2025Provide or obtain laboratory tests/services when ordered and promptly tell the ordering practitioner of the results.
Administration		D
Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Nov 25, 2025Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning		D
Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Nov 25, 2025Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
Nutrition and Dietary		E
Potential for more than minimal harm, pattern
Nov 25, 2025Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Infection Control		E
Potential for more than minimal harm, pattern
Jul 23, 2024Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning		B
Potential for minimal harm, pattern
Jul 23, 2024Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning		D
Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Jul 23, 2024Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Quality of Life and Care		D
Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Jul 23, 2024Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Nutrition and Dietary		D
Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Jul 23, 2024Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Infection Control		D
Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated

Showing the 12 most recent of 17. Full inspection reports are on Medicare Care Compare.

Severity letters follow CMS's scope-and-severity grid: A–C potential for minimal harm, D–F potential for more than minimal harm, G–I actual harm, J–L immediate jeopardy. Most citations are corrected; a citation is what inspectors found on that date. Source: CMS Health Deficiencies file, processed Aug 1, 2026.

Fines and payment denials

CMS records no fines or payment denials for this facility in the last three years.

Source: CMS Penalties file, processed Aug 1, 2026. Amounts are as CMS reports them and may reflect later reductions or appeals.

Staffing

Total nurse staffing per resident per day
3.86 hours
Registered nurse (RN) time per resident per day
0.41 hours
Nurse aide time per resident per day
2.31 hours
Total nurse staffing on weekends
3.42 hours
Nursing staff turnover (yearly)
25%
RN turnover (yearly)
28%
Administrators who left in the past year
0

From payroll-based staffing data the facility submits to CMS. Hours are per resident per day.

A citation is what inspectors found on one date; most are corrected within weeks. Look for patterns — the same problem cited in several inspections — and for anything at the G–L level (actual harm or immediate jeopardy). The full inspection narrative (Form CMS-2567) is linked from Medicare Care Compare, and your state long-term care ombudsman can tell you about complaints.

Other nursing homes in Fitchburg

Fitchburg Healthcare1199 John Fitch Hwy · Fitchburg, MA 01420 · (978) 345-0146 · For-profit39 health citations in 3 inspection cycles · last standard inspection Feb 11, 2026 · $33,180 in CMS fines (3 yrs)Medicare & Medicaid certified1★ overall (CMS)Fitchburg Rehabilitation and Nursing Center94 Summer Street · Fitchburg, MA 01420 · (978) 343-3530 · For-profit41 health citations in 3 inspection cycles · last standard inspection Mar 7, 2025 · $43,719 in CMS fines (3 yrs)Medicare & Medicaid certified1★ overall (CMS)

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