Survey

lynndeeloonurse · Sep 14, 2003

The state is our agency this week and next. She went with me to an IV case. I just did what I usually do and I guess I will find out how I did in the exit review. When we were leaving my clients home the surveyer stated "Good Visit", so I hopefully didn't do too bad. I was surprised that I wasn't nervous, like I said, I just did the visit as I usually do. I'll let you know next week what we hear. Take care, Lynn

tburrell · Sep 14, 2003

If the Director of Clinical Services has laid the foundation for proper documentation and also other required paper work, and has instructed / oriented nurses on how a home visit is to be conducted, then there should not be any worry.

As the Director of Clinical Services for my agency I go on visits with my nurses, therapist, and home health aides to observe them. This is the only way I can correct something that may be wrong with the actual home visit. Also, I am continuously making

corrections to the notes that are submitted (I make a copy and do the corrections and return them to the staff member). This is done so the staff will see where they can improve on their documentation. I also publish all the new guidelines that come from Medicare or the State. I also involve the staff in the OBQI process. This is the only way I know how to educate the staff on everything that is coming across my desk.

If you had done anything grossly wrong while completing the home visit, the surveyor would have told you. Where most agencies get hit is through the documentation, follow-up, MD orders not back in a timely fashion, staff not following the plan of care, frequencies not being observed, etc. Most of the time, surveyors can readily tell that good care is being delivered.

meowser · Sep 17, 2003

Please let me know how your survey went, and the results.

meowser · Sep 17, 2003

tburrell, you're so right about documentation and all those other things. It's difficult getting most staff to comprehend the fact that they won't have any patients (or work) if attention is not given to all those other "nitpicky things."