CMS F-tag

F888: Infection control

Ensure staff are vaccinated for COVID-19 Cited 346 times at 346 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#120 of 242 tags2% caused harm44 statesLatest survey May 23, 2023

How F888 shows up in inspections

F-TAGF888#120 of 242 tagsRarely cited

How serious it usually is

  • Immediate jeopardyL0.6%2
  • Actual harmG · H1.7%6
  • No actual harmD · E · F75.7%262
  • Minimal harmB · C22%76

2% of F888 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

  • 346Citations
  • 346Facilities cited2% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

  • 20211
  • 2022227
  • 2023118

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

Where F888 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 F888 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

  • Illinois5% of homes33 citations · 33 of 665 facilities
  • Missouri5% of homes26 citations · 26 of 479 facilities
  • California2% of homes25 citations · 25 of 1,154 facilities
  • Virginia6% of homes18 citations · 18 of 285 facilities
  • New Jersey5% of homes18 citations · 18 of 344 facilities
  • Michigan4% of homes17 citations · 17 of 420 facilities
  • Ohio2% of homes14 citations · 14 of 911 facilities
  • Oklahoma5% of homes14 citations · 14 of 282 facilities
  • North Carolina3% of homes13 citations · 13 of 417 facilities
  • Indiana2% of homes12 citations · 12 of 504 facilities

Top 10 of 44 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

  1. Avant Rehabilitation and Care CenterTrenton, NJ · Report card1 F8881 with harm
  2. Capitol River Wellness & RehabilitationJefferson City, MO · Report card1 F8881 with harm
  3. Hitz Memorial HomeAlhambra, IL · Report card1 F8881 with harm
  4. Lakeside Health & RehabilitationRichmond, VA · Report card1 F8881 with harm
  5. Liberty Commons Rehabilitation CenterWilmington, NC · Report card1 F8881 with harm
  6. Mountain View Manor Nursing CenterBryson City, NC · Report card1 F8881 with harm
  7. Optalis Health & Rehabilitation at Kent-CrossingGrand Rapids, MI · Report card1 F8881 with harm
  8. Winding Trails Post AcuteBoulder, CO · Report card1 F8881 with harm
  9. Accolade Healthcare of SavoySavoy, IL · Report card1 F888No harm
  10. Ahmc Seton Medical CenterDaly City, CA · Report card1 F888No harm
  11. Alhambra Post AcuteMartinez, CA · Report card1 F888No harm
  12. Aliya on 87thChicago, IL · Report card1 F888No harm
  13. Aperion Care WesleyChicago, IL · Report card1 F888No harm
  14. Arbor Post AcuteChico, CA · Report card1 F888No harm
  15. Arcadia Care JacksonvilleJacksonville, IL · Report card1 F888No harm

What to ask a facility about a F888 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 May 23, 2023. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What is F888 in a nursing home inspection?
F888 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Ensure staff are vaccinated for COVID-19" (Infection control). Surveyors cite it when a facility is found out of compliance with that regulation during a standard survey or complaint investigation.
How common is F888?
F888 was cited 346 times at 346 facilities (2% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #120 of 242 tags. 8 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Does a F888 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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