SNF 5 Star Rating (5 Star)

Poor survey outcomes have serious and long-lasting negative effects

Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) are highly regulated and are in the midst of many changes impacting survey success. Ensuring facility compliance prior to the annual recertification survey or complaint investigation requires continual preparation and practice. A LTC mock survey can be an invaluable part of this process. Poor survey outcomes have serious and long-lasting negative effects, such as contributing to a decline in overall 5 Star Rating, potential litigation risks, fines, denial of payments, strain on staff resources, and damaging publicity.

Mock surveys serve as an opportunity to take a fresh look at systems, procedures and processes of care to identify potential risk areas and address them through the performance improvement process. A mock survey also offers a practice “test” to evaluate how your staff will perform and how your residents will respond to interviews conducted by surveyors. Resident responses to surveyors during the initial pool process is a critical component of the survey that determines additional care areas the surveyors will focus on investigating during the investigative portion of the survey. Mock surveys help to identify concerns residents have with care and services that will likely be communicated to surveyors, so that you can initiate performance improvement efforts to resolve the issues.

Proactive offers mock survey services to assist providers in preparing for the annual survey process by identifying potential areas that may be at risk related to your systems, procedures and processes of care. The mock survey process includes completion of a sample of the initial pool process interviews, observations, and limited record reviews; completion of all 9 mandatory tasks; and a review of all additional areas triggered for review through the initial pool process. A detailed report of findings will be provided to guide any needed plan of correction. Resources and guidance are available as needed in follow up to the mock survey visit including consultations on developing a plan of correction, follow-up compliance visits, staff training, and on-going regulatory compliance consultation services.

Our clinical consultants have extensive experience serving in long term care leadership and consulting positions, including positions as Director of Nursing, Administrator, Nurse Assessment Coordinator, and Corporate Nurse Consultant and Training Positions. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a mock survey.



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Blog by Shelly Maffia, MSN, MBA, RN, LNHA, QCP, CHC, Director of Regulatory Services, Proactive Medical Review

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