State Survey

[Pennie 26]

Tip of the week: Comprehending the enforcement cycle

Article From: CLTC Weekly

 

Traditionally, the enforcement cycle begins the day the survey team leaves the facility. Nursing care facilities, especially those receiving Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, face mandatory annual surveys. These surveys are conducted without notification, which makes it more important that administrators have their facility survey-ready every day. Usually, an annual survey needs to be completed approximately nine to 15 months after the preceding annual survey. Frequently, individuals will speak about reducing or shrinking the survey window. This means that if the facility received a number of complaints during the year or if it traditionally has a poor history of compliance, the survey window is shorter than it is for facilities that are regularly compliant (i.e., it’s closer to nine months).

 

However, you should not try to predict when your next survey visit will occur; it is much more prudent to be an assiduous administrator who addresses compliance daily and in a fastidious manner. That way, you will promote the highest standards of care for your residents, and your staff will understand that your expectations for quality care are continuous.

 

This is an excerpt from HCPro’s book, The Long-Term Care Administrator’s Field Guide, by Brian Garavaglia, PhD.

[bigchris 1]

I would second that statement about making predictions on when they are coming!!! Our last survey was so late that we will have 2 during the 2010 year.

 

There are a lot of variables that effect when the surveyors come. In Georgia, some are: furlough days that are mandated for state employees, time between complaint surveys and the scheduled survey, facility reputation, etc.

 

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