By Garret Falcone, Erickson Health
Administrator of Extended Care
When looking for long-term care, you should consider things like location, staff to patient ratios, social activities, dining, and nursing home surveys. This month, here are answers to some of your questions about nursing home surveys. Q. What is a nursing home survey and who conducts it?
A. Under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), individual states conduct annual, unannounced inspections (called surveys) of nursing homes every 9 to 15 months, or as a result of a complaint. Many counties also have health inspection teams that survey nursing homes.
Q. What is a nursing home deficiency, how is it remedied?
A.
During a survey, the nursing home is assessed based on 150 standards of care. In addition to the facilities’ own mechanisms, the survey assists in evaluating the quality of care provided. For each standard the nursing home does not meet, it receives a deficiency. In 2004, the average number of deficiencies in certified nursing homes was nine per facility. Nursing homes can have deficiencies in everything from the safe storage of food to protecting residents from abuse or inadequate care practices.
If issued deficiencies, the nursing home is fined, denied payment from Medicare or Medicaid, or assigned a temporary manager or monitor. The nursing home may also have to submit a plan of correction and address deficiencies within a certain time period. Facilities typically take immediate steps to remedy any problem found.
Q. Where can I find nursing home surveys?
A.
The federal government provides information through a tool called “Nursing Home Compare” at www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/home.asp. If you don’t have Internet access, you can contact the state survey agency, the nursing home itself, or the long-term care ombudsman. To find a long-term care ombudsman, go to www.nursinghomaction.org or call 202-332-2275.