Deficiency Free Survey TIP # 1: Know Your Survey Window!
This seems like an obvious piece of advice, but this is often overlooked. Knowing when your survey window opens (and notifying ALL of the Staff in the facility), is your first and most important line of defense when it comes to State Surveys.
The following 4 steps will give you a head start for your Survey.
Step 1: Calculate your Survey Window.
Your State Survey Opens 9 months after the last day of your last survey.
i.e. If State exited your building on January 1st this year, your window will open October 1st the same year.
Your window is open for up to 15 months. So, state can come in on the same day that your window opens, or towards the last days of your survey window (15 months later), or anywhere in between.
Step 2: Put it in your calendar
Record the date that your window opens in your calendars: paper + digital (i.e. google calendar).
Add a reminder for 40 days prior to window opening.
Step 3: Conduct in-service to educate all staff
All staff in the facility must know when your window opens for survey. Everyone from Managers, to CNAs, Housekeeping, Dietary, etc.
Schedule mandatory In-services with ALL personnel to notify them when the survey window opens, so they can begin departmental survey preparedness.
Step 4: Survey Preparedness
Begin to prepare for your survey, at least 30 days before your survey window opens.
Conduct Audits, In-Services, Mock-Surveys, etc. as part of your survey preparedness plan.
Start with the deficiencies that you received from the last survey.
