Well here we are!! Mid December and we have acceptance of the survey response that we submitted. These were minor issues if you remember from earlier postings, but it is all major to the Health Department until they have accepted the Plan of Correction (POC). Eventually this survey will make it to the most recent survey on Nursing Home Compare: www.medicare.gov/nhcompare
In other news, we also completed a survey by a team from the Syracuse Office of the Health Department that reviewed our nurse aide training program. We were approved to continue the program through October 31, 2011. This approval to continue our training of certified nurse aides is important because we can observe during training and identify trainees that are most suitable for employment here. It takes special abilities and compassion to become a good nurse's aide. The training program itself is 100 hours of both textbook work and practical application. If you are interested, please contact us at (315) 841-4156 to see when classes are available.
Showing posts with label Surveys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Surveys. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
2009 NY Survey
The NY State Health Department team arrived on October 19th. Of course un-announced as always, but the unusual thing this year was it was on a Monday. In the past, the team would get all their paperwork together on Mondays and then visit a facility on Tuesday. They came with all the paperwork needed on a Monday! I think the process is becoming better organized.
Four Health Department people were on the team, an RN Team Leader, a Sanitarian, a Social Worker and another Nurse. They come prepared with a list of resident records they want to review for their sample. These were chosen from information in their office files. For example, we submit detailed patient care reports called MDS's on all residents at multiple times during their stay. These reports are used to profile the care residents are receiving. These reports plus any complaint reports plus any items from their previous surveys they want to follow up on make up the initial sample residents and files to look at. While doing this they also make observations on their unit tours and during observations of medication passes and meal times. In addition, they review the environment, life safety, kitchen, and quality assurance assurance efforts of the facility. To top this off and as a very important part of the survey process, they interview resident's families and meet with the Resident Council.
Wow !! What a lot of work to accomplish! They stayed through Wednesday October 21st and left after an "Exit Conference" Overall I feel the survey was very resident focused and the issues brought to our attention were valid and relatively minor. We will not know exactly what our deficiencies will be until their final report which should arrive sometime this month.
When this "SOD" (Statement of Deficiencies) arrives we will respond with our "Plan of Correction". This plan addresses exactly what we are going to do about any findings they may have had. The next step is their review of our response. This could include a follow-up survey or a desk review of our response. We should know by December how the response was accepted.
A final Statement as to our being in "compliance" is then issued.
Please note that by NY State law, the State Survey results are always posted publicly for anyone to review at any time. The on-line postings always lag somewhat because of the lengthy process as above.
Four Health Department people were on the team, an RN Team Leader, a Sanitarian, a Social Worker and another Nurse. They come prepared with a list of resident records they want to review for their sample. These were chosen from information in their office files. For example, we submit detailed patient care reports called MDS's on all residents at multiple times during their stay. These reports are used to profile the care residents are receiving. These reports plus any complaint reports plus any items from their previous surveys they want to follow up on make up the initial sample residents and files to look at. While doing this they also make observations on their unit tours and during observations of medication passes and meal times. In addition, they review the environment, life safety, kitchen, and quality assurance assurance efforts of the facility. To top this off and as a very important part of the survey process, they interview resident's families and meet with the Resident Council.
Wow !! What a lot of work to accomplish! They stayed through Wednesday October 21st and left after an "Exit Conference" Overall I feel the survey was very resident focused and the issues brought to our attention were valid and relatively minor. We will not know exactly what our deficiencies will be until their final report which should arrive sometime this month.
When this "SOD" (Statement of Deficiencies) arrives we will respond with our "Plan of Correction". This plan addresses exactly what we are going to do about any findings they may have had. The next step is their review of our response. This could include a follow-up survey or a desk review of our response. We should know by December how the response was accepted.
A final Statement as to our being in "compliance" is then issued.
Please note that by NY State law, the State Survey results are always posted publicly for anyone to review at any time. The on-line postings always lag somewhat because of the lengthy process as above.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Survey Results!
At last !! We have formal paperwork on the results of our last survey that was conducted in November of 2008. It sure takes time doesn't it? The survey was "completed" November 17th, 2008. We get the statement of deficiencies Monday January 12th and we must respond by Friday January 16th. So much for equal time : )
The two (yes that's only two) deficiencies were isolated issues and fell into a very low category of D on a scale of D, E, or F with F being the worst level of Minimal issues. The next group is G, H or I that are deemed Significant issues. This is followed by J, K and L that are deemed Immediate Jeopardy issues. (These could pose real and immediate problems to residents) The thing about the three ratings at each rating level is the number of residents affected. The first category letter represents isolated or very few residents affected. The next letter in a category means more residents effected. The final letter means widespread.
You will be able to see the full survey results soon on-line. I will also post a link when I have one. The final steps in this process are:
1/ A possible Follow-up survey to insure our plan of correction was in fact put into place and
2/ A new Survey profile Summary is issued.
Then the survey process is complete !!! wow !! (well.... until the next one : ))
The two (yes that's only two) deficiencies were isolated issues and fell into a very low category of D on a scale of D, E, or F with F being the worst level of Minimal issues. The next group is G, H or I that are deemed Significant issues. This is followed by J, K and L that are deemed Immediate Jeopardy issues. (These could pose real and immediate problems to residents) The thing about the three ratings at each rating level is the number of residents affected. The first category letter represents isolated or very few residents affected. The next letter in a category means more residents effected. The final letter means widespread.
You will be able to see the full survey results soon on-line. I will also post a link when I have one. The final steps in this process are:
1/ A possible Follow-up survey to insure our plan of correction was in fact put into place and
2/ A new Survey profile Summary is issued.
Then the survey process is complete !!! wow !! (well.... until the next one : ))
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