Is there a clearinghouse or forum where LTC facilities can share survey issues?

you should check out mds forum and there is a section about survey stuff we just had a doozy lost our natcep program due to quality of care issues surveys. I have been seriously bummed, but I am going to hang tough-- got new DON today hopefully we can get somewhere due to his knowledge and background. I am going to keep a positive attitude and keep trudging on.

I wish there was some way members of LTCs in every state could post what they cited on in their survey. Some survey teams are more "picky" than others.

In MN, all surveys are posted on the State website for any and all to read. It is the actual pages of the survey that are scanned and posted. I love being able to see what others are cited for and their fixes.

Does your nursing home belong to state LTC organizations? At meetings, people often talk informally about survey-what's being cited, the emphasis of the survey, etc.

A good resource about surveys and nursing home characteristics was done by KU in conjunction with the KS. Dept of Aging. The results are on the web.

What a great idea! However - I can see it making me crazier than I already am trying to keep up with all of the constant and continuing education after education etc. You finally get ALL the CNA's on board with proper peri care technique, and no holes in the MARs, finally get everyone trained on the behavior monitoring forms, everyone's knocking on doors, when low and behold - there are personal items found in one of the bathrooms and carts on both sides of one of the hallways -and yikes! A nurse was caught doing an accucheck and did not wipe down the glucometer properly afterwards, and oops - she also forgot to use a different kleenex between eye drops . . . does it NEVER end?? We wont even mention the dining room. Our company routinely shares issues with all of the facilities and its almost a nightmare as everytime someone is cited on something goofy - then every facility has to do a (very time consuming) audit on the issue. For example one building was found to have not offered a Hep B shot to an employee within the regulated amt of time, and now we have to audit every employee hired within the last year. We also have many contacts in the area and so have a good idea what our survey team is focusing on. This year it seems to be pain - particularly pain control before dressing changes, therapy, etc. One never knows - that is the problem and the scope is sooooo broad, and the number of regs so ridiculously cumbersome - you could drive yourself nuts trying to keep up. My advice - do the best you can and then some. Most surveyers have a soft spot when they see that your building is genuinely trying to provide quality care everyday and not just during survey.