SMQT SURVEYORS AND SURVEY TEAMS, SMQT STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE

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