Limitations on Technical Assistance Afforded by Surveyors

2727 - Limitations on Technical Assistance Afforded by Surveyors (Rev. 154, Issued: 06-10-16, Effective: 06-10-16, Implementation: 06-10-16) SAs are encouraged to communicate with providers and their associations. Discussions of program requirements and the survey process can result in a better understanding of the process by all parties involved. Further, §§1819(g)(1)(B) and 1919(g)(1)(B) of the Act mandate that the State conduct periodic educational programs for staff and residents (and their representatives) of SNFs and NFs in order to present current regulations, procedures, and policies. (See §1010.D.) When deficiencies are found during the survey process, the surveyor provides an explanation to the provider concerning the deficiency in specific terms as described in §2724C to help the provider understand why the requirement is not met. Frequently, the explanation will embody the action needed to correct the problem. In situations where there may be several possible causes for the deficiency, it is not the surveyor’s responsibility to delve into the facility’s policies and procedures to determine the root cause of the deficiency or to sift through various alternatives to suggest an acceptable remedy. For example, if a provider was cited for maintaining incomplete clinical records, specify what is missing - not why it is missing or what process is best for ensuring that the records will be complete in the future.