facebook tracking Deer's Head Center, Salisbury MD: CMS Ratings & Inspections
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Deer's Head Center

All states › Maryland › Salisbury › Deer's Head Center

351 Deer's Head Hospital Road Salisbury, MD 21801 · Wicomico County

(410) 543-4000

All 4 nursing homes in Salisbury, MD (4 take Medicaid)

Accepts Medicare Accepts Medicaid 80 certified beds Government

CMS certification number 215132 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare

Ratings come from CMS and are updated monthly; these are from October 2026. Check the latest inspection report and visit in person before you decide.

Is Deer's Head Center a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record

There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for Deer's Head Center as of October 2026.

CMS rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall, above the Maryland average of 3.2. Inspectors issued 19 citations in the last three years. CMS imposed 1 penalty, including $41,265 in fines, in that time.

Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.

Staffing

Nursing staff spend about 9.34 hours per resident per day at Deer's Head Center, above the Maryland median of 3.70 (US median: 3.72). About 4.43 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 7.33 hours, 22% below its all-week average. Ask how weekends are staffed. 32.9% of nursing staff left within a year (Maryland median 40.9%).

Nursing care per resident per day 9.34 hours
Above the Maryland median of 3.70 Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and aides combined, from payroll records.
Registered nurse hours 4.43 per resident a day RNs handle assessments, medications and changes in condition.
Weekend nursing care 7.33 hours Per resident a day. A big drop from weekdays can mean thin weekend staffing.
Nursing staff turnover 32.9% a year Share of nursing staff who left over a year. Lower usually means steadier care.
Registered nurse turnover 16.2% a year Share of registered nurses who left over a year.
Administrators who left — Frequent leadership changes are worth asking about on a visit.

About this nursing home

Certified beds80
Residents per day 33 About 41% of beds filled, on average
OwnershipGovernment - State
Payment acceptedMedicare and Medicaid
Certified sinceJuly 1981
Legal business nameCOMPTROLLER OF MARYLAND CENTRAL PAYROLL BUREAU

Paying for care at Deer's Head Center: Medicare and Medicaid

Deer's Head Center is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet Maryland's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.

In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.

Health inspections

The most recent standard inspection was on December 16, 2025 and found 7 deficiencies. In total, inspectors issued 19 citations in the last three years.

Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.

What the inspections found

Over the last three years, inspectors issued 19 citations at Deer's Head Center across 3 inspection dates, 3 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on July 12, 2024. The most common areas cited were resident rights (6) and freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation (4). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody" (tag F0600, level G, July 12, 2024). 4 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.

December 16, 2025 · 7 citations

DHonor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0578 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 12, 2026)

DProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · Tag F0600 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 12, 2026)

DEnsure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0757 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 12, 2026)

DProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0812 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 12, 2026)

DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0880 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 12, 2026)

DMake sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Environmental Deficiencies · Tag F0921 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 12, 2026)

BPost nurse staffing information every day.

Potential for minimal harm · Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies · Tag F0732 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 12, 2026)

July 12, 2024 · 8 citations, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection

GProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.

Actual harm · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · Tag F0600 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 10, 2024)

DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · Tag F0609 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 10, 2024)

DRespond appropriately to all alleged violations.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · Tag F0610 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 10, 2024)

DProvide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0623 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 10, 2024)

DNotify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0625 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 10, 2024)

DImplement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0758 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 10, 2024)

DEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0759 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 10, 2024)

DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0880 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 10, 2024)

September 5, 2019 · 4 citations

DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0550 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 1, 2019)

DHonor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0561 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 1, 2019)

DHonor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0584 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 1, 2019)

DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0689 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 1, 2019)

Questions to ask on a tour of Deer's Head Center

  1. Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on July 12, 2024 under the rule on freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
  2. CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on December 16, 2025. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
  3. Weekend staffing is 22% below the all-week average. Who is on duty on Saturday nights?
  4. The home averages about 41% of its beds filled. Are any units closed?
  5. Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
  6. When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?

Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.

Fines and payment denials

1 penalty in the last three years, including $41,265 in fines.

DateTypeAmount or length
Jul 12, 2024 Fine $41,265

Rating history

CMS monthOverallInspectionStaffingQuality
October 2026 5/5 5/5 5/5 3/5
August 2026 5/5 5/5 5/5 3/5
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Location

Hospitals near Deer's Head Center

The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.

Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.

Nearby nursing homes

Wicomico Nursing Home Salisbury · 1.1 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 4/5 102 beds · Medicaid
Anchorage Rehabilitation and Wellness Center Salisbury · 1.3 mi away ★★☆☆☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 4/5 126 beds · Medicaid
Bay Harbor Post Acute Healthcare Center Salisbury · 1.5 mi away ★★☆☆☆ Inspection 1/5 · Staffing 2/5 305 beds · Medicaid
Manokin Nursing and Rehab Princess Anne · 13.2 mi away ★☆☆☆☆ Inspection 1/5 · Staffing 1/5 135 beds · Medicaid
Snow Hill Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center Snow Hill · 17.9 mi away ★★☆☆☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 2/5 69 beds · Medicaid

More nursing homes near Deer's Head Center ›   All nursing homes in Salisbury ›

Compare Deer's Head Center with the 3 closest homes side by side ›

Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.

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https://www.nursinghomesineachstate.com/maryland/salisbury/deers-head-center/ · Data: CMS, October 2026 · Nursing Homes In Each State, not affiliated with CMS or Medicare.