Stacy 0 Report Share Posted January 17, 2007 What luck we have had... Our survey window opened up on January 15, and State walked in yesterday. Along with them, came the federal inspectors as well. We have 9 surveyors in our building, and it is sooooo intimidating. They came in at 9:00, and didn't leave until 5:00. We had 6 surveyors sitting in one of our activities. I went in to help the girls with the group, she was so nervous, and yes so was I. They are a very tight lipped group, and didn't say much to us yesterday at all. They looked at charts, and I know they looked at the activity section because I had to read to the surveyor the notes and care plans (one of my girls has bad hand writing) Well, needless to say, I can't wait till Friday. Hope your week is going better than mine. Stacy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BartMan 0 Report Share Posted January 17, 2007 Hang in there Stacy !! We all know what you are going through and we all know that it is not fun I just went through it in December. I wish you the best of luck the rest of this week !!!! You can do it !! BartMan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quilterbcathy 0 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 Stacy, My best to you too! The facility I worked at before this one up until three weeks ago just had theirs, 3 months after the window. They did great, in spite of their fears and the stress. I think while I was there the stress level was so high just knowing they could come at any minute and we kept waiting and waiting. I would like to celebrate with them as I was working at it right along with them. Mine is coming up and am hoping they run a bit late just so I can get a handle on things. If they are early I'll just have deal with it and try to remember I am there for the residents first... have got my work cut out with being so new here. It won't be the first survey I've been through but the first as a greenhorn AD in an unfamiliar place. Hang in there! It will be behind you soon! Cathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanguard 0 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 You got lucky. Our survey was last week. They arrived at 8am the first day stayed until 9pm and came back at 5:30am for the next 3 days, and stayed until7pm the good news is that our activities dept got rave reviews, nursing documantation took a hit but other than that it was a long stressful week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy 0 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2007 Our survey is not over... This is the worst survey team we had ever had. This team has made some really bad acccusations, we have come back and refuted what they were saying. We have provided documentation (stuff that they should have found in the charts if only they would have looked hard enough). They said to us yesterday, that they are at a point that they should have been at day 2 instead of day 4. I will have to say that their list of their daily status meeting was significantly shorter yesterday than all the other days. I can't believe how much pressure they are under with the Feds looking right over their shoulder. We have even gotten them confused. A staff member was asked to go through the personel files with the surveyor to help her find what was needed. The surveyor got so frustrated that after the 6th file (there 14 she wanted to look at), she closed the files gave them back to her and said she didn't want to look at them anymore. I guess she wasn't making any sense. She wanted to know the exact date that a particular nurse took her exam, and proof that she passed. We kept giving her the liscence. She looked around at her team members, and they even said they didn't understand what she was asking for. So, we are on guarded standby, they said they will be back on Tuesday. Another week of this, how exciting... :hammer: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BartMan 0 Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 Hey Stacy !! How are you doing ? Are they back at your facility yet? Are they gone ? How did yall do ? If they are still there, I continue to wish you the best of luck ! Hang in there ! Keep us posted , okay ? Chat at ya later , BartMan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy 0 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 They are back in our building. We have no idea when they will leave. Two weeks of this is way too much. I'll update when they leave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy 0 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2007 One word....Demoralized! Our survey is over, and they nailed anything and everything. I don't know how they do it in other states, but here, we are supposed to know after everyday the issues they have. There were at least 10 issues they cited us on that they never told us about. They even cited us on not having enough room in the dining room for all the residents to eat??????!!!!! Our building has been around for 25 years, and now all of a sudden we don't have enough room? We also don't understand, since the floor that they are talking about only 10 residents eat in their room, and that is by their own request. I'm the only department that did not get tagged, however, when it's that bad, I know I took some of those tags to heart. So, that is bitter sweet. We asked that they come back today, to talk about what they wrote, they did show up. This time without the feds. We'll have to wait and see what comes out of this. They also agreed to do a formal exit. This won't be done till Thursday or Friday. We know a lot of changes are coming, at least they will be for the good of the home. I'm glad it's over, I hope none of you have to go through a survey like we had to go through the past 2 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BartMan 0 Report Share Posted January 24, 2007 I knew you could do it Stacy !! Congrats on not getting any tags in the Activity Dept. Sounds like they are getting tougher and tougher every year. My survey in December was also pretty rough. You Rock Girl !! No tags , No Tags , it's yo B'Day , Go Stacy !! Good Job !! BartMan )~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Report Share Posted January 24, 2007 Wow, we've all been through surveys, but you seem like you've been through the ringer. I've always heard about federal surveyors, but I have never been through a federal survey. Bart, I don't think it has to do with surveys getting tougher, but more of what kind of survey they had. Well, glad it over. You have next year to look forward to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BartMan 0 Report Share Posted January 25, 2007 Well Guest , all I know is that I have been through a lot of surveys and Yes they are now tougher than they were say five years ago , I think everyone would agree with me on that one. A lot has changed from thirteen years ago when I started. I will have to stick by my statement..... Anyway , everyone have a blessed day !! Peace Out , BMan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pennie 26 Report Share Posted January 25, 2007 I also have never been through a survey with the Feds. It is nerve racking enough just with State, everyone's tension level had to have been raised a level or 2. Do the Feds come in random or is there some specif things that could possible make them show up to? I do agree with Bartman that the survey's are getting a bit harder. Expecially with the new F-tags, they are being trained to look into things more throughly that in the past. I mean tears ago most survery's didn't even really know what we are about (Activities that is). Also you read alot more about the negative things happening in LTC facilities (well not just LTC but AL, retirement etc) So this has to be adding to the presurre for state to be more alert as to what is going on in homes. This is my preceitive anyway. Pennie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mel Report Share Posted January 25, 2007 Stacey we had the Feds walk in with our surveyors last year as well, it was just as rough as your describing. They are so much more nit pickier (is that a word) then when it's just them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Report Share Posted January 25, 2007 Pennie, The Feds show up randomly. They have to show up to 5% of the surveys every year. You never know when or where they will be. They can come like they did to our facility, in which they walked in at the same time of the state, or, many times they show up to facilities that have zero deficiencies year after year. That is usually a flag to them that they need to see what is going on in that facility to be deficiency free. Our Administrator was handed a letter stating that they will be there for the duration of the survey. They will be monitoring what the state surveyors are doing. As nervous as it is with State, it's 10x's more stressful with the feds. The feds were not coridial at all. You would say hi, they wouldn't respond back. I can only explain it as, when the state surveyors watch over your shoulder, the feds are right behind them looking over theirs, when a mistake is made everyone is writing down notes. There wasn't much dialog between anybody. Yesterday when they came back to talk with us, the feds were not with them. The whole atomshpere was different. The state surveyors actually listened to what we were saying. We were talking with them for 6 hours around a table, and it was as if the tension was gone without the feds there. The past 4 years we had a total of 5 tags.....this year..... 16 tags (we were able to cut it down from 23). Now, we still have not had our "official" exit, they should be back tomorrow to do that, so there is a chance there can be less. Bart, You're right surveys are a lot more intense to begin with, but after you go through one of these, you can deffinetly see the difference in stress levels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy 0 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2007 Oops, after I posted I realized I wasn't logged in. sorry about that Stacy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BartMan 0 Report Share Posted January 25, 2007 Okie Dokie Smokie ! I'm just glad they are gone and you can breath. Geeeeeeeeeeeeeez I was even nervous and yall are like not even close to my facility , Whew Weeeeeee !! Have an Awesome weekend everyone !! BartMan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pennie 26 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 Hey Stacy & Bartman, I could not even imagine how stressful it was/is. It could be enough to drive you to drinking, if only you find the to do that (lol). So can you share with us what did they seem to be watching as far as activities. How about the charts, could you tell if they were looking at any particular documenations? How did you come on deficinicies? I have been told that they are really keying in on peoples certifications. We have been getting alot of phone calls from Admins last couple of weeks saying thought that the AD's were certified but come to find out they aren't. They all seem to have this kind of panic in their voices. After all w/ new regs it can be a Level 3 or 4 deficiency now, depending on the State's mood that day. So all of you AD's be sure that you look at your certificates to be sure you are either qualitied or certified by your state or NCCAP, which ever applies to you area. Check the expiriation dates, may be time to get those CEU's done & your renewal's sent it. Bartman & Stacy keep us informed we are hungry for all the details Later & thanks so much for the input pennie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BartMan 0 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 Hey Pennie , Happy Friday !! Now Stacy was the one they were visiting. I am just the spectator this time , Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha .... But I'm sure she will keep us informed............... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy 0 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 As far as Activities, the looked at Care Plans and Progress Notes. They spent A LOT of time in our groups. A lot, just sitting there and watching. They did not question my CTRS status, nor did they look at my file or my Assistants files. They did look to make sure that the care plans were being followed through as far as approaches. Nursing had an approach that the a resident will be at the nurses station when alone, well, needless to say, she wasn't so that was a citation. I can't stress enough to only use approaches that will be followed through and not because they "sound good". Documentaiton was heavily looked into with all departments. I was asked to read several care plans and progress notes. I'm assuming whatever they were looking for was there, becuase they didn't comment on it. They were very into meal time tray passing. They got us for not opening up milk, however, I do not agree that one at all. They noticed on our dementia floor that milk wasn't opened and stated that we never asked the residents because the surveyor went up to the resident, and when she asked, the resident wanted it opened.....We all know that we can ask someone and they can change their mind, they didn't care. In fact, our sister facility got done with their survey yesterday (no feds), and the got cited for the same type of incident, in which they didn't open up their silverware. Resident dignity was a big issue with them, from finger nails, to knocking on doors. Fire preparedness - make sure your forgein language employees understand this really well, our laundry did know/understand. They asked a lot of our staff members about abuse and neglect, gave them situations, what would they do. We also had to do handwashing demonstrations for them as well The good news is that we are now down to 11 tags, but they still have not exited. Our admin, was talking with them telling them we want closure. They said they hope to be back next week...grrrr. I hope this helps, it covers many departments, not just activities, but like I said, they did have any issues with us. Oh, by the way.....there was plenty of drinking!!!! Stacy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest_ErinE Report Share Posted January 27, 2007 Stacy What state are you from?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
candi 0 Report Share Posted February 9, 2007 Activity Director in Ohio, we just had our state survey last week and they never asked one question to any activity staff or about activities to my knowledge. I didn't even see them observe an activity. My administrator said they looked at the act. calendars and said "boy are you guys busy" and that was it. Now my understanding is that the Feds will be in soon, so we will see what happens then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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