CMS F-tag

F841: Nursing & physician services

Designate a physician to serve as medical director responsible for implementation of resident care policies and coordination of medical care in the facility. Cited 106 times at 103 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#161 of 242 tags18% caused harm38 statesLatest survey Dec 12, 2025

How F841 shows up in inspections

F-TAGF841#161 of 242 tagsRarely cited

How serious it usually is

  • Immediate jeopardyJ · K · L11.3%12
  • Actual harmG · H6.6%7
  • No actual harmD · E · F78.3%83
  • Minimal harmC3.8%4

18% of F841 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

  • 106Citations
  • 103Facilities cited1% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

  • 20182
  • 20192
  • 20202
  • 20213
  • 20227
  • 202323
  • 202435
  • 202532

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

Where F841 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 F841 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

  • California1% of homes16 citations · 16 of 1,154 facilities
  • Vermont24% of homes11 citations · 8 of 33 facilities
  • New York1% of homes7 citations · 7 of 593 facilities
  • Ohio1% of homes6 citations · 6 of 911 facilities
  • New Jersey1% of homes5 citations · 5 of 344 facilities
  • Missouri1% of homes4 citations · 4 of 479 facilities
  • Tennessee1% of homes4 citations · 4 of 298 facilities
  • Kentucky1% of homes3 citations · 3 of 266 facilities
  • Massachusetts1% of homes3 citations · 3 of 338 facilities
  • Minnesota1% of homes3 citations · 3 of 337 facilities

Top 10 of 38 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

  1. Premier Rehab and Healthcare at BerlinBarre, VT · Report card2 F8411 with harm
  2. St. Johnsbury Health & RehabSaint Johnsbury, VT · Report card2 F8411 with harm
  3. Barre Gardens Nursing and Rehab, LLCBarre, VT · Report card2 F841No harm
  4. Asbury Place at MaryvilleMaryville, TN · Report card1 F8411 with harm
  5. Bishop Rehabilitation and Nursing CenterSyracuse, NY · Report card1 F8411 with harm
  6. Burlington Health and Rehabilitation CenterBurlington, WI · Report card1 F8411 with harm
  7. Bayshore Nursing & RehabGlendale, WI · Report card1 F8411 with harm
  8. Berkshire PlaceProvidence, RI · Report card1 F8411 with harm
  9. Cherokee Center for Nursing and Healing LLCCanton, GA · Report card1 F8411 with harm
  10. Cleveland Community Care CenterCleveland, MS · Report card1 F8411 with harm
  11. Donalson Care CenterFayetteville, TN · Report card1 F8411 with harm
  12. Falkville Rehabilitation and Healthcare CenterFalkville, AL · Report card1 F8411 with harm
  13. Hanover Health and Rehabilitation CenterMechanicsville, VA · Report card1 F8411 with harm
  14. Life Care Center of Merrimack ValleyBillerica, MA · Report card1 F8411 with harm
  15. Magnolia RidgeGardendale, AL · Report card1 F8411 with harm

What to ask a facility about a F841 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 12, 2025. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What is F841 in a nursing home inspection?
F841 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Designate a physician to serve as medical director responsible for implementation of resident care policies and coordination of medical care in the facility." (Nursing & physician services). Surveyors cite it when a facility is found out of compliance with that regulation during a standard survey or complaint investigation.
How common is F841?
F841 was cited 106 times at 103 facilities (1% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #161 of 242 tags. 19 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Does a F841 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.

Estimate costs, decode inspections, and benchmark a facility with the rest of the toolkit.

All free tools
Nursing Home Report CardNursing Home Star Rating Lookup & Safety Report CardLook up any Medicare-certified nursing home and get a plain-English safety report card: star ratings, inspection citations, fines, staffing, and turnover compared with state peers.Overall, inspection, staffing, and quality stars vs. the state averageEvery health citation grouped by category with severity explainedFines, payment denials, abuse flags, and special-focus statusTry it free Medicare 100-Day CalculatorMedicare Skilled Nursing Coverage CalculatorSee how many days Medicare pays for rehab or skilled nursing, what the daily copay is after day 20, and when the 100-day benefit runs out.Day-by-day breakdown of what Medicare coversThe 2026 daily coinsurance for days 21–100The date your benefit days run outTry it free Care Needs AssessmentCare Needs Assessment: Home Care vs. Assisted Living vs. Nursing HomeAnswer ten questions about daily needs, health, memory, and budget to see which level of care fits your parent, then browse matching providers near you.A recommended care level with the reasons behind itWhat each option typically costs and who paysMatching providers near your ZIP codeTry it free

Compare the facilities on your shortlist

Put up to three nursing homes side by side with star ratings, staffing, inspection results, and penalties from the latest CMS data. Free, no account needed.

Compare facilitiesBrowse by state

Own or manage a facility?

Claim your free listing to correct details, reply to reviews, and show your verified badge.

Claim your facility

Read our latest articles