Safety Report: Cherokee County Nursing Center

Tahlequah, Oklahoma · Based on official CMS inspection records as of October 1, 2026.

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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

Overall★★★★★
Health inspections★★★★★
Staffing★★★★★
Quality measures★★★★★
Long-stay quality★★★★★
Short-stay quality★★★★★

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)
0Actual harm citations (severity G–I)
0Requirements cited on more than one inspection

No citations at the “actual harm” or “immediate jeopardy” level in the last three inspection cycles.

Citations by topic

2Abuse, neglect & exploitation
2Infection control
4Medications & pharmacy
0Accidents & 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 (2) than in the cycle before (6).

Two cycles ago
none serious
Prior cycle
none serious
Most recent cycle
none serious

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.

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

24 citations across 4 inspection dates.

July 3, 2025 — 2 citations
D
Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · F761 · corrected July 11, 2025
D
Ensure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F693 · corrected July 11, 2025
March 5, 2025 — 3 citations · complaint investigation
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 · complaint · corrected March 21, 2025
D
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · F610 · complaint · corrected March 21, 2025
D
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · F609 · complaint · corrected March 21, 2025
February 16, 2024 — 3 citations
E
Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · F759 · corrected March 7, 2024
E
Allow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Resident Rights Deficiencies · F554 · corrected March 7, 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 March 7, 2024
February 10, 2023 — 16 citations
E
Regularly inspect all bed frames, mattresses, and bed rails (if any) for safety; and all bed rails and mattresses must attach safely to the bed frame.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Environmental Deficiencies · F909 · corrected March 23, 2023
E
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · F812 · corrected March 23, 2023
E
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 · Pattern · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · F756 · corrected March 23, 2023
E
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 · Pattern · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F700 · corrected March 23, 2023
E
Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F698 · corrected March 23, 2023
E
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F684 · corrected March 23, 2023
E
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · F641 · corrected March 23, 2023
E
Assure that each resident’s assessment is updated at least once every 3 months.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · F638 · corrected March 23, 2023
E
Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Resident Rights Deficiencies · F578 · corrected March 23, 2023
D
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · F842 · corrected March 23, 2023
D
Provide timely, quality laboratory services/tests to meet the needs of residents.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Administration Deficiencies · F770 · corrected March 23, 2023
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 March 23, 2023
D
Ensure that nurse aides who have worked more than 4 months, are trained and competent; and nurse aides who have worked less than 4 months are enrolled in appropriate training.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies · F728 · corrected March 23, 2023
D
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · F657 · corrected March 23, 2023
D
Assess the resident when there is a significant change in condition
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · F637 · corrected March 23, 2023
D
Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Rights Deficiencies · F582 · corrected March 23, 2023

Source: CMS Health Deficiencies dataset (data as of October 1, 2026); full inspection narratives on Medicare Care Compare

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