CMS F-tag

F908: Environment & safety

Essential equipment must be kept in safe operating condition. Cited 1,887 times at 1,639 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#53 of 242 tags1% caused harm51 statesLatest survey Jan 14, 2026

How F908 shows up in inspections

F-TAGF908#53 of 242 tagsOccasionally cited

How serious it usually is

  • Immediate jeopardyJ · K · L0.6%11
  • Actual harmG0.3%5
  • No actual harmD · E · F96.9%1,828
  • Minimal harmB · C2.3%43

1% of F908 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

  • 1,887Citations
  • 1,639Facilities cited11% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

  • 20176
  • 201832
  • 201987
  • 202022
  • 2021115
  • 2022186
  • 2023442
  • 2024542
  • 2025453
  • 20262

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

Where F908 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 F908 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

  • California35% of homes499 citations · 401 of 1,154 facilities
  • Texas13% of homes173 citations · 153 of 1,167 facilities
  • Pennsylvania14% of homes116 citations · 90 of 653 facilities
  • Florida13% of homes102 citations · 92 of 689 facilities
  • Ohio8% of homes83 citations · 77 of 911 facilities
  • Maryland29% of homes82 citations · 64 of 219 facilities
  • Illinois11% of homes76 citations · 72 of 665 facilities
  • New York8% of homes57 citations · 50 of 593 facilities
  • Michigan10% of homes44 citations · 41 of 420 facilities
  • Missouri8% of homes43 citations · 38 of 479 facilities

Top 10 of 51 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

  1. Oakwood Healthcare CenterChico, CA · Report card5 F908No harm
  2. Wyndmoor Hills Rehabilitation and Nursing CenterWyndmoor, PA · Report card4 F9081 with harm
  3. Pines Nursing and RehabEaston, MD · Report card4 F908No harm
  4. Ivory Wellness CenterNorristown, PA · Report card3 F9081 with harm
  5. Autumn Creek Post AcuteChico, CA · Report card3 F908No harm
  6. Asistencia Villa Healthcare CenterRedlands, CA · Report card3 F908No harm
  7. Avir at ElkhartElkhart, TX · Report card3 F908No harm
  8. Buena Vista Care CenterAnaheim, CA · Report card3 F908No harm
  9. Cape Regency Rehabilitation & Health Care CenterCenterville, MA · Report card3 F908No harm
  10. Capistrano Beach Care CenterDana Point, CA · Report card3 F908No harm
  11. Capitol City Rehab and Healthcare CenterWashington, DC · Report card3 F908No harm
  12. Civita Care Center at Salmon BrookGlastonbury, CT · Report card3 F908No harm
  13. Courtyard Health Care CenterDavis, CA · Report card3 F908No harm
  14. French Park Care CenterSanta Ana, CA · Report card3 F908No harm
  15. Golden San Andreas Care CenterSan Andreas, CA · Report card3 F908No harm

What to ask a facility about a F908 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 Jan 14, 2026. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What is F908 in a nursing home inspection?
F908 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Keep all essential equipment working safely." (Environment & safety). Surveyors cite it when a facility is found out of compliance with that regulation during a standard survey or complaint investigation.
How common is F908?
F908 was cited 1,887 times at 1,639 facilities (11% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #53 of 242 tags. 16 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Does a F908 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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