Audit Methodology
We believe that every family deserves access to unfiltered safety data. This page outlines the data sources, calculations, and logic used to generate the Nursing Home Audit Safety Scores.
1. Data Sources
Our primary data source is the Provider Data Catalog (PDC) maintained by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). We focus on two specific datasets:
- Health Deficiencies: Records of inspections where federal or state surveyors found violations of health and safety standards.
- Penalties: Records of monetary fines and payment denials imposed due to severe or uncorrected deficiencies.
2. Score Calculation
A facility's Safety Score starts at 100. Points are deducted based on the volume and severity of citations over a rolling 3-year period:
3. Grading Scale
The Role of AI
We use Large Language Models (LLMs) to summarize dense, technical federal reports into plain English. The AI does not decide the Safety Score; rather, it highlights the actual text found in the public record to make it easier for families to understand the nature of a citation.