Finding the right nursing home for a loved one is one of the most important decisions a family can make. The process can feel overwhelming, especially when you're hearing different things from different facilities. Sometimes, you may not have a choice. Your loved one may be in a crisis, in need of long-term or rehabilitation care, and there might only be one or two facilities in your area with a bed available. 

If you have a choice, one tool that can help families make safer choices is the CMS Special Focus Facility (SFF) Program. This federal program identifies the lowest-performing nursing homes in the country, those facilities with a long history of serious violations, understaffing, resident injuries, and systemic neglect.

What Is the CMS Special Focus Facility Program?

The SFF Program is a federal oversight list through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that identifies nursing homes with:

• Chronic health and safety violations
• Repeated citations for neglect or abuse
• Poor inspection histories
• Patterns of resident harm
• Ongoing failure to meet minimum standards of care

To be placed on the SFF list, a facility must fall among the worst-performing nursing homes nationwide. These facilities have been cited for serious, ongoing noncompliance, the kind that puts residents at risk. 

For families searching for a safe Wisconsin nursing home, checking whether a facility is on the list can be a useful tool.

Why Does It Matter If a Wisconsin Nursing Home Is on the Special Focus List?

A nursing home does not land on the SFF list because of a single bad month. It ends up there after years of problems. 

Facilities on the Special Focus list may have a history of the following:

• Avoidable falls and fractures
• Severe pressure wounds (bedsores)
• Medication errors
• Staff shortages
• Infections and sepsis
• Abuse or neglect complaints
• Emergency transfers
• Dangerous conditions that repeatedly threaten resident safety

The SFF designation is a red flag. 

Higher Risk of Resident Harm

If a facility is on the SFF list, CMS has already determined it has long-term, dangerous care deficiencies.

Twice the Number of Inspections

Because of the risks, SFF facilities are subject to more frequent and intensive federal inspections.

"Last Chance" Warning

Facilities typically remain in the program for 18-24 months. If a facility fails to improve, CMS may terminate their Medicare/Medicaid funding, which could then lead to the facility closure. 

What If a Facility "Graduates" From the Special Focus Facility Program?

Some nursing homes eventually graduate from the SFF list after showing improvement. While this is positive, a facility that recently graduated may still have:

• A long track record of violations
• Years of underperformance
• Corporate-level issues that caused the failures
• Ongoing staffing or leadership problems 
• Legal claims against them already for negligence 

Graduation means improvement, but it does not erase the facility's history.

How Can A Wisconsin Family Use the Special Focus List When Choosing A Nursing Home?

Whether you are looking for a nursing home in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Racine, Kenosha, or any Wisconsin community, the SFF list can be used as a tool to assist you in making an informed decision about your loved one's care. 

✔ Check whether the facility is currently on the Special Focus list

✔ Review whether the facility was ever previously on the list

✔ Compare the SFF list with other Wisconsin resources

Such as:

• • CMS Five-Star Ratings
  • Wisconsin DHS survey histories
  • State inspection reports
  • Police or DQA complaint files

A consistent pattern of problems across multiple data sources could mean the nursing home may be unsafe.

If You Believe Your Loved One Was Harmed in a Wisconsin Nursing Home

If your loved one was injured, neglected, or died in a Wisconsin nursing home, you may have the right to take legal action. 

As a Milwaukee nursing home law firm, Lojewski Abuse & Injury Law focuses on uncovering the truth, holding facilities accountable, and protecting the most vulnerable members of our community. 

If your loved one is currently at a facility that is on the SFF list, contact a Wisconsin nursing home attorney to discuss your options.

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