SMQT- SURVEYORS & SURVEY TEAMS, SMQT
STUDY GUIDE TEST QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS
Your role as a surveyor includes:
- Assessing the quality of care and services of a health facility and relating those findings to
statutory and regulatory requirements
- Being part of a team that helps to evaluate a facility's compliance in providing quality
care, quality of life, and other structural requirements
- Basing your judgments on objective findings
The Role of the Surveyor
- As a surveyor, you are part of a team engaged in a process that aims to ensure that
beneficiaries receive quality health care in a safe environment.
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) depends on your knowledge,
objectivity, professionalism, and commitment to monitor compliance with the regulatory
conditions & requirements.
- As a surveyor, you are part of a team that helps to evaluate a facility's compliance; you
must show knowledge, objectivity, professionalism, and commitment; and you must base
your judgments on objective findings.
CMS Depends on Its Surveyors
The survey, certification, and enforcement of regulations for nursing homes is codified in
past practices regarding the composition of survey teams and expands eligibility
requirements.
Survey team size will vary, depending primarily on the size of the facility being surveyed.
The State Agency (or, for Federal teams, the regional office (RO)) decides how many
members will be on the team.
Survey team size is normally based upon the following factors:
- The bed size of the facility to be surveyed
- Whether the facility has a historical pattern of serious deficiencies or complaints
, - Whether the facility has special care units
- Whether new surveyors are to accompany a team as part of their training
How the Survey Team Composition is Determined
The State Agency (or, for Federal teams, the RO) decides what the composition of the
survey team will be, as long as certain statutory and regulatory requirements are met.
- Sections 1819(g)(2)(E) & 1919(g)(2)(E) of the Act & 42 CFR 488.314 require the
following:
- SNF and NF standard surveys must be conducted by a multidisciplinary team of
professionals, at least one of whom must be a registered nurse (RN)
- Surveyors must be free of conflicts of interest
- Surveyors must successfully complete a training and testing program in survey and
certification techniques that has been approved by the Secretary.
** In other words, surveyors must successfully complete the CMS-approved training AND
pass Module A of the Surveyor Minimum Qualifications Test (SMQT).**
Surveyors who assess the requirements of quality of care, nutritional dietary services, and
drug therapy must also successfully complete Module B of the S
Team Composition
ANSWER:
The State... HOWEVER, CMS offers guidance.
- Consider using more than one RN
- Select members from a variety of professions
- Select persons with clinical expertise and knowledge
- Consider including members of specialized disciplines
Make sure all members are qualified
QUIZ QUESTION:
Regarding the composition of a Survey Team, who determines what constitutes a professional?
STUDY GUIDE TEST QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS
Your role as a surveyor includes:
- Assessing the quality of care and services of a health facility and relating those findings to
statutory and regulatory requirements
- Being part of a team that helps to evaluate a facility's compliance in providing quality
care, quality of life, and other structural requirements
- Basing your judgments on objective findings
The Role of the Surveyor
- As a surveyor, you are part of a team engaged in a process that aims to ensure that
beneficiaries receive quality health care in a safe environment.
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) depends on your knowledge,
objectivity, professionalism, and commitment to monitor compliance with the regulatory
conditions & requirements.
- As a surveyor, you are part of a team that helps to evaluate a facility's compliance; you
must show knowledge, objectivity, professionalism, and commitment; and you must base
your judgments on objective findings.
CMS Depends on Its Surveyors
The survey, certification, and enforcement of regulations for nursing homes is codified in
past practices regarding the composition of survey teams and expands eligibility
requirements.
Survey team size will vary, depending primarily on the size of the facility being surveyed.
The State Agency (or, for Federal teams, the regional office (RO)) decides how many
members will be on the team.
Survey team size is normally based upon the following factors:
- The bed size of the facility to be surveyed
- Whether the facility has a historical pattern of serious deficiencies or complaints
, - Whether the facility has special care units
- Whether new surveyors are to accompany a team as part of their training
How the Survey Team Composition is Determined
The State Agency (or, for Federal teams, the RO) decides what the composition of the
survey team will be, as long as certain statutory and regulatory requirements are met.
- Sections 1819(g)(2)(E) & 1919(g)(2)(E) of the Act & 42 CFR 488.314 require the
following:
- SNF and NF standard surveys must be conducted by a multidisciplinary team of
professionals, at least one of whom must be a registered nurse (RN)
- Surveyors must be free of conflicts of interest
- Surveyors must successfully complete a training and testing program in survey and
certification techniques that has been approved by the Secretary.
** In other words, surveyors must successfully complete the CMS-approved training AND
pass Module A of the Surveyor Minimum Qualifications Test (SMQT).**
Surveyors who assess the requirements of quality of care, nutritional dietary services, and
drug therapy must also successfully complete Module B of the S
Team Composition
ANSWER:
The State... HOWEVER, CMS offers guidance.
- Consider using more than one RN
- Select members from a variety of professions
- Select persons with clinical expertise and knowledge
- Consider including members of specialized disciplines
Make sure all members are qualified
QUIZ QUESTION:
Regarding the composition of a Survey Team, who determines what constitutes a professional?
