You might expect the biggest nursing homes, with the most equipment, to have the most electrical citations. The CMS data shows the opposite. Facilities with fewer than 50 certified beds had the highest electrical citation rate (47.2%) and the highest K921 rate (12.8%) of any size group.
Citation Rates by Number of Certified Beds
| Certified beds | Nursing homes | Cited for any electrical issue | Cited under K921 |
|---|---|---|---|
| <50 | 1,700 | 47.2% | 12.8% |
| 50-99 | 5,597 | 46.3% | 9.0% |
| 100-149 | 5,010 | 39.6% | 8.1% |
| 150-199 | 1,548 | 43.4% | 9.1% |
| 200+ | 835 | 44.2% | 8.9% |
Why Small Facilities Struggle
- No dedicated maintenance staff. In a 40-bed building, maintenance is often one person who also handles grounds, plumbing and the boiler. PCREE testing is easy to lose.
- Vendors prioritize bigger accounts. A small facility's annual testing job is small, so it's easier for a vendor to let it slip.
- Fewer devices, same paperwork. A small facility needs the same inventory, device-level records, failure follow-up and technician documentation as a large one.
- Rural locations. Many small facilities are far from biomedical service providers, which makes scheduling harder.
A PCREE Playbook for Small Facilities
- Keep a simple inventory, even a spreadsheet, with the next test date for every device.
- Book testing at the same time every year, ideally well before your survey window opens.
- Ask the technician to test incoming and repaired equipment on the same visit.
- Keep one binder (or folder) surveyors can use: the inventory, the latest device-level report, failures and re-tests, and technician documentation.
Free: PCREE Equipment Inventory Template (Excel)
Built for small teams: it calculates next test dates and flags overdue equipment in red.
Instant download. We never share or sell your information.
Check your building: look up your facility to see its electrical citations and estimated next survey window.
Source: PCREETest.com analysis of the CMS Provider Data Catalog, Nursing Homes: Fire Safety Deficiencies and Provider Information (processed September 2026). Unless noted, figures cover survey dates from September 2023 to August 2026.
Small facility, same requirements. Get a free quote sized to your building.
Get a Free PCREE Quote →Frequently Asked Questions
About the Author
PCREE Test Editorial Team
Content reviewed by biomedical professionals with experience in patient care electrical equipment testing, NFPA 99 compliance, and CMS Life Safety survey preparation for skilled nursing facilities.