CMS F-tag

F840: Administration

Employ or obtain outside professional resources to provide services in the nursing home when the facility does not employ a qualified professional to furnish a required service. Cited 189 times at 173 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#144 of 242 tags2% caused harm24 statesLatest survey Dec 4, 2025

How F840 shows up in inspections

F-TAGF840#144 of 242 tagsRarely cited

How serious it usually is

  • Immediate jeopardyJ–L0%0
  • Actual harmG · H2.1%4
  • No actual harmD · E · F96.3%182
  • Minimal harmC1.6%3

2% of F840 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

  • 189Citations
  • 173Facilities cited1% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

  • 20173
  • 20184
  • 201912
  • 20202
  • 202117
  • 202210
  • 202331
  • 202459
  • 202551

Partial years reflect the rolling three-cycle window, not a change in enforcement.

Where F840 is cited most

Survey agencies differ in what they emphasize, so compare a facility with its own state. Shares are the portion of each state’s rated nursing homes with at least one F840 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

  • Maryland14% of homes37 citations · 31 of 219 facilities
  • Virginia9% of homes29 citations · 26 of 285 facilities
  • Pennsylvania3% of homes26 citations · 22 of 653 facilities
  • California1% of homes17 citations · 17 of 1,154 facilities
  • New York3% of homes16 citations · 15 of 593 facilities
  • Ohio1% of homes10 citations · 10 of 911 facilities
  • Texas1% of homes10 citations · 10 of 1,167 facilities
  • Utah8% of homes9 citations · 8 of 96 facilities
  • Florida1% of homes6 citations · 6 of 689 facilities
  • Massachusetts1% of homes5 citations · 5 of 338 facilities

Top 10 of 24 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

  1. Accela Rehab and Care Center at SpringfieldGlenside, PA · Report card3 F840No harm
  2. Ellicott City Healthcare CenterEllicott City, MD · Report card3 F840No harm
  3. Mountain View Health ServicesOgden, UT · Report card2 F8401 with harm
  4. Ashland Nursing and RehabilitationAshland, VA · Report card2 F840No harm
  5. Autumn Lake Healthcare at Chevy ChaseChevy Chase, MD · Report card2 F840No harm
  6. Beth Haven Nursing HomeHannibal, MO · Report card2 F840No harm
  7. Birchwood Park RehabilitationVirginia Beach, VA · Report card2 F840No harm
  8. Burgh Care CenterPittsburgh, PA · Report card2 F840No harm
  9. Elkton Nursing and Rehabilitation CenterElkton, MD · Report card2 F840No harm
  10. Fox Chase HealthcareSilver Spring, MD · Report card2 F840No harm
  11. Glenburnie Rehab & Nursing CenterRichmond, VA · Report card2 F840No harm
  12. Jersey Shore Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation CeJersey Shore, PA · Report card2 F840No harm
  13. Orchard Hill Rehabilitation and Healthcare CenterTowson, MD · Report card2 F840No harm
  14. Woodbury Heights Nursing and Rehabilitation CenterWoodbury, NY · Report card2 F840No harm
  15. Avante at Melbourne INCMelbourne, FL · Report card1 F8401 with harm

What to ask a facility about a F840 citation

  1. What exactly did the surveyor find, and on what date? The report card shows the date and the severity letter.
  2. What was the plan of correction, and was it accepted by the state on the first submission?
  3. Has the same tag been cited in more than one cycle? Repeat citations matter more than a single one.
  4. If the letter was G or higher: what happened to the resident, and what changed in staffing or process?

Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, Nursing Home Health Citations, current three inspection cycles, most recent survey Dec 4, 2025. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What is F840 in a nursing home inspection?
F840 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Employ or obtain outside professional resources to provide services in the nursing home when the facility does not employ a qualified professional to furnish a required service." (Administration). Surveyors cite it when a facility is found out of compliance with that regulation during a standard survey or complaint investigation.
How common is F840?
F840 was cited 189 times at 173 facilities (1% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #144 of 242 tags. 4 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Does a F840 citation mean the facility is unsafe?
Not on its own. Read the scope and severity letter: D through F means no actual harm was found, G through I means a resident was harmed, and J through L means immediate jeopardy. Ask the facility what was cited, what was corrected, and when.

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