CMS F-tag

F917: Environment & safety

Make sure each resident has 1) at least one window to the outside in a room; 2) a room at or above ground level; 3) adequate bedding; 4) furniture that meets the resident's needs; or 5) adequate closet space. Cited 57 times at 57 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#167 of 242 tags2% caused harm21 statesLatest survey Aug 25, 2025

How F917 shows up in inspections

#167 of 242 tagsRarely cited

Rarely cited
Occasionally cited
Often cited
Very often cited
Among the most cited

How serious it usually is

Immediate jeopardyJ–L0%0
Actual harmH1.8%1
No actual harmD · E · F94.7%54
Minimal harmB3.5%2

2% of F917 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

57Citations
57Facilities cited0% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

20181
20193
20212
20225
202319
202415
202512

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

Where F917 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 F917 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

Ohio1% of homes9 citations · 9 of 911 facilities
Illinois1% of homes6 citations · 6 of 665 facilities
Maryland2% of homes5 citations · 5 of 219 facilities
Florida1% of homes5 citations · 5 of 689 facilities
Pennsylvania1% of homes5 citations · 5 of 653 facilities
California0% of homes4 citations · 4 of 1,154 facilities
Texas0% of homes3 citations · 3 of 1,167 facilities
Michigan1% of homes3 citations · 3 of 420 facilities
Virginia1% of homes2 citations · 2 of 285 facilities
Wisconsin1% of homes2 citations · 2 of 321 facilities

Top 10 of 21 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

Avir at Town CreekPalestine, TX · Report card1 F9171 with harm
Allure of GalesburgGalesburg, IL · Report card1 F917No harm
Arbor Ridge Rehabilitation and Healthcare CenterWayne, NJ · Report card1 F917No harm
Astoria Place of CincinnatiCincinnati, OH · Report card1 F917No harm
Athene Nursing and RehabilitationTown and Country, MO · Report card1 F917No harm
Autumn Lake Healthcare at Baltimore WashingtonGlen Burnie, MD · Report card1 F917No harm
Aventura at CreeksideCarbondale, PA · Report card1 F917No harm
Avir at Petal HillTyler, TX · Report card1 F917No harm
Ayden Healthcare of OregonOregon, OH · Report card1 F917No harm
Accura Healthcare of South Des MoinesDes Moines, IA · Report card1 F917No harm
Benson Heights Rehabilitation CenterKent, WA · Report card1 F917No harm
Blue Point Healthcare CenterBaltimore, MD · Report card1 F917No harm
Bradley Estates Nursing and Rehab LLCMilwaukee, WI · Report card1 F917No harm
Brenham Nursing and Rehabilitation CenterBrenham, TX · Report card1 F917No harm
Bria of GodfreyGodfrey, IL · Report card1 F917No harm

What to ask a facility about a F917 citation

What exactly did the surveyor find, and on what date? The report card shows the date and the severity letter.
What was the plan of correction, and was it accepted by the state on the first submission?
Has the same tag been cited in more than one cycle? Repeat citations matter more than a single one.
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 Aug 25, 2025. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

What is F917 in a nursing home inspection?

F917 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Make sure each resident has 1) at least one window to the outside in a room; 2) a room at or above ground level; 3) adequate bedding; 4) furniture that meets the resident's needs; or 5) adequate closet space." (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 F917?

F917 was cited 57 times at 57 facilities (0% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #167 of 242 tags. 1 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.

Does a F917 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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