Highlands Lake Center
Highlands Lake Center is a 2-star rated nursing home in Lakeland, FL with 179 beds. CMS sub-ratings: health inspections 2/5, staffing 3/5, quality measures 4/5.
The facility has 51 health violations on record. Federal fines total $55,621 across 2 enforcement actions. Most recent inspection: April 17, 2025.
Data synthesized from CMS.gov and Florida public inspection records. Reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NR-EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Inspection History Overview
Data current as of May 6, 2026 · Source: CMS Provider Data
Detailed Inspection Reports
Notice: These are official CMS inspection narratives containing detailed regulatory findings. This information is not available in searchable format anywhere else online.
Fines and Penalties by Year
2020 2 penalties totaling $55,621
Fine
Fine
Health Violations by Year
2025 2 violations
Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
Provide or obtain laboratory tests/services when ordered and promptly tell the ordering practitioner of the results.
2024 15 violations
Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
Honor each resident's preferences, choices, values and beliefs.
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Provide for the safe, appropriate administration of IV fluids for a resident when needed.
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
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.
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Make sure there is a pest control program to prevent/deal with mice, insects, or other pests.
2023 3 violations
Ensure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
2022 2 violations
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
2021 9 violations
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.
Notify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.
Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
Ensure each resident receives and the facility provides food that accommodates resident allergies, intolerances, and preferences, as well as appealing options.
Ensure necessary information is communicated to the resident, and receiving health care provider at the time of a planned discharge.
2020 4 violations
Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
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.
2018 11 violations
Ensure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
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.
Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
2017 5 violations
Provide necessary care and services to maintain or improve the highest well being of each resident .
Ensure that each resident's 1) entire drug/medication regimen is free from unnecessary drugs; and 2) is managed and monitored to achieve highest level of well-being.
Keep accurate, complete and organized clinical records on each resident that meet professional standards.
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provide adequate supervision to prevent avoidable accidents.
Frequently Asked Questions About Highlands Lake Center
- What violations has Highlands Lake Center received?
- Highlands Lake Center has 51 health and safety violation(s) documented by CMS inspections. All violation data comes from official Medicare inspection reports and is updated regularly from government sources.
- What is the quality rating of Highlands Lake Center?
- Highlands Lake Center has a 2-star rating out of 5 from CMS. This rating indicates the facility may have quality concerns that should be investigated further. The rating is based on health inspections, staffing levels, and quality measures.
- When was Highlands Lake Center last inspected?
- Inspection reports are documented by state survey agencies and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Reports typically lag 2-3 months behind the actual inspection date. Visit the facility's full profile page for detailed violation information and inspection history.
- Is Highlands Lake Center safe?
- Safety at Highlands Lake Center should be evaluated based on multiple factors: the facility's CMS rating, recent violation history, and personal visits. We recommend reviewing the complete inspection history, speaking with current residents and families, consulting healthcare professionals, and visiting in person before making placement decisions.
- How do I contact Highlands Lake Center?
- Phone: (863) 646-8699. Address: 4240 Lakeland Highlands Rd, Lakeland, FL. For visiting hours and admission information, call the facility directly.
- What services does Highlands Lake Center offer?
- Highlands Lake Center is a skilled nursing facility with 179 beds. The facility accepts Medicare and Medicaid. For specific services like rehabilitation, memory care, or short-term recovery, contact the facility directly.
- What are better facilities near Lakeland, FL?
- Compare Highlands Lake Center with other nursing homes in Lakeland, FL on our facilities page. Filter by star rating, bed count, and recent inspection results to find the best match for your needs.
Compare Nursing Homes in Lakeland, FL
| Facility | Rating | Violations | Beds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highlands Lake Center (this facility) | ★★☆☆☆ | 51 | 179 |
| Florida Presbyterian Homes Inc | ★★★★★ | 44 | 68 |
| Manor At Carpenters, The | ★★★★☆ | 27 | 72 |
| Wedgewood Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center | ★★★★☆ | 54 | 120 |
| The Club At Lake Gibson | ★★★☆☆ | 20 | 120 |
| Breezy Hills Rehab And Care Center | ★★☆☆☆ | 55 | 120 |
| Lakeland Hills Center | ★★☆☆☆ | 45 | 120 |
Editorial Standards & Data Oversight
Data Source: This report is based on official public inspection records from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Provider Data Catalog.
Editorial Process: Content generated using AI to synthesize complex regulatory data, then reviewed and verified for accuracy by our editorial team.
Professional Review: All content undergoes standards and compliance oversight by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., Nationally Registered EMT & BU-trained Paralegal, using professional regulatory data auditing protocols.
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