Pre-Survey Game Plan Stay Ready
In the world of athletes and sports, you will often hear them use the phrase “we stay ready so we ain’t got to get ready”. Athletes typically train year-round for their particular sport and have various seasons where they know they need to “be ready” even more than usual. Their bodies are taxed; they are training hours upon hours; their nutrition and hydration are near perfection, and they are preparing for the big event.
It's not often we hear of our post-acute industry being compared to top athletes and sporting events, but in reality, we are very similar in preparing all year for our big event(s)…the survey!
This leads us to share the first part in a three-part blog series related to all things regulatory and how vital “staying ready” is to your compliance, quality and reputation when operating in the post-acute arena.
Post-acute providers are regulated as much, if not more, than any other healthcare provider in the nation. There is much scrutiny and many rules/laws that we are required to follow and expected standards we are to meet. We are caring for the most vulnerable of our population and without guardrails and standards we would be lost. However, in trying to meet these standards and stay within the guardrails, we can often find ourselves unprepared, lost, or even in a battle just to stay in the game. This is why it is crucial for your facility to continually focus on quality improvement and always meeting these standards.
Providers should have a Quality Assurance program in place that continually assesses each system in the facility to ensure actionable steps are taken to either maintain compliance or obtain compliance.
What is your facility doing to prepare for your “big event”, the “super bowl”, or “the annual survey”?
Are you fully prepared for the upcoming season like a top athlete is prepared for their upcoming season?
If not, there are things that you and your team can start today to begin preparing for that season. Whether the survey is likely to fall next month or in six months, start preparing sooner than later by implementing some of the following action items:
Mock survey – review each regulatory category and ensure systems are meeting/exceeding minimum standards.
QAPI Meetings & Action Items – while meetings are only required quarterly, it is best practice to review QA monthly to ensure systems remain effective and then revisions and corrective actions are taken for any systems not meeting compliance.
Staff Training and Education – ensure staff receive the required annual education as well as providing return demonstration of skills that will be observed during the survey process.
Internal Audits of Systems – conduct audits of each system including business office, admissions and clinical areas of concern.
Documentation Audits – review documentation and identify any weaknesses where education might be needed.
Interviews with your Residents & Family Members – listen to those you serve and be willing to hear from them on how to make improvements.
QSR5 offers a pre-survey package to assist post-acute providers such as SNF, ALF, Memory Care, Home Health & Hospice, to ensure great outcomes on your upcoming annual inspections as well as revisits and self-reported incidents. Just like a coach prepares his team for the game through training, observation and practice…providers need to prepare for the big game with training, coaching and practices.
Contact QSR5 for a free consultation to discuss how to best prepare for your survey BEFORE the big event!