Knoxville Senior AdvisorRocky Top Care Center is a 117-bed nursing home at 204 Industrial Park Ln, Rocky Top, certified for Medicare and Medicaid and licensed by Tennessee's Health Facilities Commission as nursing home #3; CMS rates Rocky Top Care Center 2 out of 5 stars overall in Care Compare data dated October 1, 2026.
What are Rocky Top Care Center's Care Compare star ratings?
CMS rates Rocky Top Care Center 2 out of 5 stars overall, with 1 star for health inspections, 3 for staffing and 5 for quality measures.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| CMS overall rating | 2 of 5 |
| Health inspections (CMS) | 1 of 5 |
| Staffing (CMS) | 3 of 5 |
| Quality measures (CMS) | 5 of 5 |
| Long-stay / short-stay quality (CMS) | 5 / – |
| Certification (CMS) | Medicare and Medicaid |
| Certified beds; average daily census | 117; 81.0 |
| Ownership (CMS) | For profit - Corporation |
| Chain (CMS) | None listed |
| Medicare/Medicaid participation since | August 2, 1990 |
| HFC nursing home license | #3, 113 licensed beds |
| Secured / Alzheimer's beds (HFC) | 22 / 0 |
About 81 residents live there on an average day, 69% of certified beds, below the 80% median for certified homes in the seven counties.
How many deficiencies does CMS show for Rocky Top Care Center?
Surveyors' latest standard health inspection of Rocky Top Care Center was on March 4, 2026; CMS records 3 health deficiencies in that cycle (3 standard, 0 complaint).
An earlier cycle, surveyed August 22, 2024, recorded 20 deficiencies. Against a seven-county median of 4 deficiencies, the latest count is typical or better.
Within CMS's three-year penalty window it shows 1 fine totaling $86,768 and 0 payment denials.
Tennessee's own enforcement file adds: September 9, 2024: Executive Order assessing one (1) Type B CMP of $1,500; June 6, 2023: Must remain in compliance with the payment plan created with TennCare for past due nursing home assessment fees.
What do staffing and turnover look like at Rocky Top Care Center?
Residents at Rocky Top Care Center get about 3.25 hours of nursing staff time per day in CMS's payroll data, below the seven-county median of 3.49; registered nurses supply 0.52 of those hours.
Nurse aides account for 1.74 hours per resident day. Weekend total nurse staffing is 2.97 hours per resident day. Nursing staff turnover is 54.4%, above the seven-county median of 52.9%; RN turnover is 75.0%. CMS counts 0 administrator departures in its measurement period.
Is Rocky Top Care Center certified for TennCare long-term stays?
CMS lists Rocky Top Care Center as certified for Medicare and Medicaid, so it can bill Medicare for qualifying short-term skilled stays and TennCare (Tennessee Medicaid) for long-term residents who qualify through CHOICES Group 1.
A rehab admission after a hospital stay usually starts under Medicare Part A, which covers up to 100 days with a daily copay after day 20. When skilled care ends, the bill shifts to private funds, insurance or TennCare CHOICES. TennCare residents keep a $50 monthly personal needs allowance; the rest of their income goes toward the cost of care.
How does Rocky Top Care Center compare with nearby nursing homes?
The closest other certified nursing home is Andersonville TN Opco, LLC in Andersonville (5.7 mi, CMS 3 of 5), and the nearest acute-care hospital is Tennova Healthcare - North Knoxville, about 12.6 miles away.
| Facility | Miles (straight line) | Licensed beds | CMS overall rating | Latest CMS health inspection | Health deficiencies (latest cycle) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andersonville TN Opco, LLC 3382 Andersonville Highway, 37705 | 5.7 | 103 | 3 of 5 | December 3, 2025 | 3 |
| Woodland Post Acute LLC 220 Longmire Road, 37716 | 6.7 | 120 | 3 of 5 | September 23, 2025 | 7 |
| Diversicare of Oak Ridge 100 Elmhurst Drive, 37830 | 14.1 | 120 | 1 of 5 | September 22, 2023 | 17 |
| NHC HealthCare, Oakridge 300 Laboratory Road, 37830 | 14.2 | 120 | 5 of 5 | February 19, 2026 | 2 |
| Senator Ben Atchley State Veterans Home One Veterans Way, 37931 | 16.8 | 140 | 5 of 5 | March 11, 2026 | 2 |
The HFC bed report lists 22 secured and 0 Alzheimer's beds here, relevant for a resident with dementia who also needs nursing care.
Which questions does Rocky Top Care Center's CMS record raise?
Use the public numbers to steer the visit. First, ask for the full statement of deficiencies from March 4, 2026, even though the count (3) is not high.
- Turnover of 54.4% is above the local median; ask what share of aides on nights and weekends are agency staff.
- Ask what led to the $86,768 in CMS fines and whether the problem has been closed out.
- With occupancy near 69%, ask which halls have openings and why.
- CMS shows a both council; ask when it meets and how families raise concerns.
- Ask who the attending physicians are and how often they see long-term residents.
