Your Facilities Procedure During Survey

[mashonda 0]

I was just curious to know what some of the things your facility, particularly nursing homes. do during a survey. For example, I and other department heads are assigned a hall to be a "quarterback" on and when the state comes, we are to be on our assigned hall constantly. Basically, we monitor call bells, special equipment that residents should have on and such.

 

To me, it seems more like what the cna's should be doing anyway, but that's just me. We are not to leave the hall and I am not involved in any activities during the time they are there. We, department heads are also not allowed to leave until after the survey team has left the building. Oh, I forgot to mention that we have to go in a 6 on the days they are at the facility and since we can't leave until they leave, we are there until 9 and 10 at night at times.

 

Does anyone else's facility do this? :roll: :-?

[Diana 0]

Hi Mashonda

our rules are similar to yours, as far as having halls we cover and being readily available to the state for questions and assistance to staff for problems that arise. We usually arrive 6:30 or 7:00 and leave when state leaves - which the latest I have ever had to stay at this facility was 8:00, and I've been here 3 years. I've seen them stay as late as past midnight when there was an IJ - Immediate Jeapardy. WE had two of our three air conditioners go out during a heat wave - not a good situation! State was in the building till the air felt cool enough to leave.

 

You said you don't conduct activities while state is there because you are monitoring the floor? How dangerous is that!!!! Even if you have assistance that do the activities for you, you need to be active in the daily fun, show your relationship with the residents to the State. State looks at your activites, how you conduct them, your documentation and everything. State wants to see how the facility conducts their daily routine - by being on the floor you are putting your department at risk!!! Don't do it!

 

Give administration guidlines, such as during meal time and when there is no activity, to be monitoring your hall - but you are right, the CNA's do their job just fine and need to prove that to the state as well!

 

Hope this helps!

[mashonda 0]

Hi Diana,

 

Thanks for the reply. It's nice to know that others do this as well. Unfortunately, it's not an option to not be on the halls during the state investigation. Believe me, I would much rather be conducting activities. She has even asked me something one time about who was in the particular activity at that time, and I explained to her that I was not sure because I'm down here on the hall. I can't be in two places at one time. I even tried to convince her to let me stay with my department but she didn't go for that. Basically every dept. head gets behind on their tasks, because we are not allowed to do any of our "normal" duties.

[astizzle 0]

My facility has recently been going through survey. We just got our immediate jeopardy lifted, and are just waiting on the resurvey. My administrator likes the same thing, that we come in early and stay until the surveyors leave. It helps to have department heads on the floor, but I'm lucky enough to have staff to keep the activities going. We also have an adult education teacher that's in our facility about 17 hours a week. It seems to me that if you had to stop the activities during survey that you would be asking for a deficiency from the surveyors. Keep up the good work though, if the surveyors see you working hard at running a good activity department, they are more likely to want to see you succeed.

[Guest Elaine]

I guess my administrator is really different. His philosophy is that we should run the facility and work as if surveyors are there every day. Ofcourse when they do come in human nature does kick in and things do change some. There are more admin. staff on the floor. I actually seem to spend more time in activities and less on paper work. Which is a good thing!

[mashonda 0]

I am getting a lot of insight from everyone's replies. Just to clarify, in case I have confused someone, I do have the pleasure of having 2 assistants.

 

Thanks for the input.

[kevinm 2]

We just finished survey this week and you bet everyone was on the floor and active all week. Administrator on down! Activities were all well attended (thanks to all the help) Residents that I hardly ever see in activity programs were in them this week. I wish State was in more often!

By the way Activities passed inspection with flying colors thats 12 years str8 without a gig..... whooo hooo!

 

You can be sure that I will point this out to all the Department heads next week As one member said, their Admin. says to go about EVERYDAY as if State was in the Bldg.

 

Kevin

[Guest Ann]

:cry:

I hate to say this but my facility too has me on floor ,but not just when State inspectors in but all the time. and I am the only one in my Dept..been there many years as Cna too..But gettin mighty frustrated...Any of you in same boat?

[Diana 0]

Hi Ann, yes, I too get frustrated, but I love what I do and take the well being of my residents into first consideration!

I have been working as an AD for four years and have probably only had an assistant for an accumulated 6 months out of those four years. During survey, you bet I am out on the floor working my tail off, helping nursing staff with passing out trays, etc, but they also help me in return, because they know that if they need something within my grasp, I'll do what I can. You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours senario.

 

Good luck and keep your chin up! That's what the residents look forward to....your smile!