Nursing Home Inspection Report Decoder

Use this free decoder while reading any nursing home inspection report or facility citation record.

Decode CMS F-tags, K-tags, and severity letters

Nursing home inspection reports are public, but they are written for regulators. This decoder translates the codes families see on facility reports into plain English: what the problem means, how serious it was, whether it repeated, and what to ask before choosing care.

F-tags

Health inspection codes for resident care, staffing, medication, abuse, infection control, food safety, and rights.

K-tags

Life Safety Code findings for fire doors, sprinklers, exits, alarms, emergency power, drills, and electrical systems.

Severity letters

A-L ratings show whether residents were harmed, how widespread the issue was, and whether life or safety was in immediate danger.

Quick severity guide

A-C:
No harm or minimal risk.
D-F:
No harm yet, but the problem could worsen.
G-H:
A resident was harmed.
I-L:
Immediate danger or widespread serious risk.

Every citation category, in plain English

These are the categories CMS inspectors cite, ranked by how often they appear across 705,694 citations in our copy of the federal inspection record. “Immediate jeopardy” counts the most serious subset — severity J, K or L, meaning a resident was in danger of serious harm or death.

Source: CMS Health Deficiencies and Life Safety Code data. Find any code on a facility’s own report.

Category & what it means Codes Citations Immediate
jeopardy
Pharmacy Services
The facility's pharmacy practices had problems — such as inaccurate medication records, missing reviews by a pharmacist, or drugs not being dispensed correctly.
 F755, F756, F757, F758, F759, F760, F761, F762 49,450 534
Electrical & Utility Safety
The facility had a problem with electrical systems, emergency power, outlets, power strips, generators, utilities, or medical gas handling. These issues can create fire or emergency-response risks.
 K511, K521, K911, K912, K914, K918, K919, K920… 45,762 14
Resident Rights
The facility did not fully respect residents' legal rights — such as privacy, the right to make decisions about their own care, or the right to raise concerns without fear of retaliation.
 F550, F551, F552, F553, F554, F555, F556, F557… 39,588 450
Medication Management
The facility had problems ensuring residents received the right medications at the right times, including errors in prescribing, dispensing, or monitoring for side effects.
 F756, F757, F758, F759, F760, F761, F762 39,554 442
Food Safety & Sanitation
Food was not stored, prepared, or served in a safe and sanitary way, creating a risk of foodborne illness for residents.
 F800, F801, F802, F803, F804, F805, F806, F807… 39,234 242
Care Planning
The facility did not create or maintain a personalized care plan that addresses each resident's specific health needs, goals, and preferences.
 F655, F656, F657, F658, F659, F660, F661, F662… 38,665 361
Accident Prevention
The facility failed to identify and remove physical hazards or provide adequate supervision that could lead to resident injuries such as burns, falls, or cuts.
 F689, F690, F691, F692 36,645 3,058
Infection Control
The facility did not consistently follow hygiene and sanitation practices that prevent the spread of infections, including proper hand-washing, isolation procedures, and equipment cleaning.
 F880, F881, F882, F883, F884, F885, F886, F887 34,572 355
Abuse & Neglect
Inspectors found that a resident was mistreated, that the facility failed to prevent abuse, or that staff did not report or investigate allegations of abuse promptly.
 F600, F601, F602, F603, F604, F605, F606, F607… 34,360 2,446
Quality of Care
Residents did not receive the medical treatments, therapies, or personal care services they needed to maintain or improve their health and well-being.
 F684, F685, F686, F687, F688 34,045 1,138
Fire Doors & Corridors
The facility had a problem with corridor doors, smoke doors, or hallway barriers that are supposed to slow smoke and fire spread so residents have time to evacuate or shelter safely.
 K362, K363, K372, K374, K222, K223 28,276 37
Hazardous Areas & Fire Risks
The facility did not fully protect higher-risk rooms or equipment areas, such as storage, laundry, kitchens, or other spaces where fire could start or spread faster.
 K291, K293, K321, K324, K781 25,876 15
Nutrition & Hydration
The facility did not make sure residents were receiving enough food, fluids, or nutritional support to maintain their health and body weight.
 F692, F693, F694, F695, F696, F697 24,223 309
Fall Prevention
The facility failed to assess residents' fall risk or put a proper prevention plan in place, resulting in a resident falling and possibly being injured.
 F689 23,704 2,960
Fire Sprinkler System
The facility had a problem with sprinkler coverage, maintenance, testing, or outage procedures. Sprinklers are a key fire-protection system that help control fires before residents are in danger.
 K351, K353, K354 22,766 22
Unnecessary Medications
Residents were given medications — including antipsychotics, sedatives, or other drugs — that were not medically necessary, or without proper monitoring for harmful effects.
 F756, F757, F758, F758 19,682 56
Fire Drills & Emergency Preparedness
The facility had a problem with fire drills, evacuation planning, staff preparedness, or documentation showing that staff know what to do in an emergency.
 K711, K712, K741, K761 19,610 21
Resident Assessments
The facility did not properly assess residents' health, functional abilities, or needs on the required schedule, which can lead to care plans that don't reflect the resident's actual condition.
 F636, F637, F638, F639, F640, F641, F642, F643… 19,246 7
Activities & Social Engagement
The facility did not provide enough meaningful activities to keep residents socially connected and mentally engaged based on their interests and abilities.
 F675, F676, F677, F678, F679, F680 16,991 420
Fire Alarm & Smoke Detection
The facility had a problem with fire alarms, smoke detectors, alarm testing, or alarm outage procedures. These systems warn staff and residents when fire or smoke is detected.
 K341, K345, K346, K347 13,414 31
Administration & Leadership
The facility's leadership did not maintain adequate oversight, staffing levels, policies, or compliance systems necessary to keep residents safe.
 F835, F836, F837, F838, F839, F840, F841, F842… 12,926 437
Dignity & Respect
Staff did not consistently treat residents with the respect and courtesy they deserve, or residents were not given choices that allow them to maintain their sense of self.
 F550, F559, F560 10,483 14
Pressure Ulcers (Bedsores)
The facility did not take adequate steps to prevent or properly treat pressure sores, which are painful skin injuries caused by staying in one position for too long.
 F686, F687 10,318 295
Professional Standards
Nursing or clinical staff did not follow accepted professional standards when delivering care, which can put residents at risk for preventable complications.
 F726, F727, F728, F729, F730, F731, F732 10,307 200
Exits & Evacuation Routes
The facility had a problem with exits, stairways, emergency lighting, or evacuation routes that residents and staff may need during a fire or emergency.
 K211, K225, K271, K281 9,523 25
Freedom from Restraints
The facility used physical restraints or medically inappropriate devices on residents without proper justification, consent, or monitoring.
 F604, F605, F606, F607, F608 6,795 314
Dietary Services
Meals did not consistently meet residents' nutritional needs or dietary restrictions, including therapeutic diets prescribed for medical conditions.
 F800, F803, F806, F807, F808 6,688 78
Building Fire Safety
The facility had a problem with general building fire-safety requirements, construction type, or fire-rated building features.
 K100, K161, K311 4,642 5
Mental Health & Behavioral Care
Residents with depression, anxiety, dementia, or challenging behaviors did not receive adequate mental health support, monitoring, or individualized care strategies.
 F740, F741, F742, F743, F744, F745, F746, F747… 3,823 149
Pain Management
Residents experiencing pain did not receive timely assessments or appropriate treatment, meaning they suffered discomfort that could have been better controlled.
 F697 3,499 80
Housekeeping & Cleanliness
Resident rooms, common areas, or bathrooms were not kept clean and sanitary, which raises both comfort and infection-risk concerns.
 F720, F721, F722, F723, F724, F725 3,475 54
Staff Training
Staff were not properly trained on required topics such as abuse prevention, dementia care, or emergency procedures, putting residents at risk.
 F940, F941, F942, F943, F944, F945, F946, F947… 3,410 4
Physical Environment
The facility's building or equipment was not maintained in a safe, clean, or functional condition — including issues like broken equipment, poor lighting, or unsafe temperatures.
 F700, F701, F702, F703, F704, F705, F706, F707… 3,336 63
Grievance Process
Residents or family members who raised concerns or complaints were not given a fair, timely, and documented response from the facility.
 F585, F586 2,770 2
Accommodation of Needs
The facility did not adjust its routines, environment, or services to meet residents' individual preferences and special needs.
 F559, F560, F561 2,563 8
Dental Care
The facility did not ensure residents had routine access to dental care or help with oral hygiene, which affects both comfort and overall health.
 F790, F791 1,949 3
Laboratory Services
The facility did not arrange for lab tests that residents' doctors ordered, or did not properly act on abnormal results that required follow-up.
 F790, F791 1,949 3
Discharge Planning
The facility did not adequately plan for a resident's safe return home or transfer to another care setting, leaving families without the information and support they need.
 F660, F661, F662, F663 1,575 23

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