RE: Survey-North Jersey

[Onken, Julia]

Title: Message

Faye,        It sounds to me like your facility is doing a great job!!       Just remember that the surveyors are also doing their job.  The Feds are looking over the shoulders of the State surveyors to assure they are doing their job.  Without people like us there would be no jobs.  Ha!!!       We had especially difficult survey last year.  We just had to keep reminding each other that it was a learning experience.  We all learned a great deal and have become better at the things we do best for our residents and their families.  We also learned to pull together and make the best of a sad, almost defeating, situation.       Our survey this year was a different story completely.  Surveyors told us they really had to dig to find anything to site.  We also receive complements at the exit interview and a request to be used by the State Survey team as a "Best Practices" facility for our restorative nursing program.       Praise each other for what you do right.  Take a positive, firm stand that you will correct these problems with confidence and professional attitude.  Use your regulations and guidance to surveyors section to write you plan of correction, policies and procedures, educate your facility staff, and go a step or two beyond minimum expectations. This way you can assure that you have met all of the guidelines in any tag sited and will not have a repeat deficiency.      Pat yourself and your staff on a job well done, explain that you have some little things that need corrected in order to do an even better job.  Continue providing the excellent cares that you know you give!  And, smile knowing that this survey is not the end of the world, but the beginning of a new adventure.      Good luck and the return of good surveys! Just one of your suppor group, Julie Julia A. Onken, R.N.  LTC Nurse Manager Goshen Care Center 2009 Laramie Street Torrington, WY  82240 Phone (307) 532-4038  ex. 3044 Fax (307) 532-3800        -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 7:28 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Survey-North Jersey We had our survey from 10/29/03. Exit 11/3/03. This is  first time that we have State and Federal at the same time . It's nerve racking.  For the last 12 years of working in this facility, we have been deficiency free, this time its a big blow to us. They gave us a deficiency for minor things . 1) Residents Rights bec. they dont have access to private telephone. This particular resident doesnt have a telephone of her own and uses the phone in the nurses station. She has been doing this for years without a problem. No family to provide her a phone. 2) Physical Restraint. We dont have resident on Physical restraint. This particular resident hx. of frequent falls. slides in the wheelchair and OT suggest to use recliner without a table, position with pillow on both sides as she leans to either side and they say tthe resident cannot move so its a restraint. There are 2 more about Quality of care and prevention of falls but its getting long. Anyway they did not find anything on MDS assessment but they look so hard esp. annual assessment with RAPS. They read on RAP notes. In RAP Summary where they see the date and location of documentation, they really look if the date has a corresponding documentation. She mention 1 resident that does not have enough documentation. annual assess with no change but how much more time you put on 1 MDS full assess. and you know that its a never ending job. Everyone in our facility felt so down. Just sharing with you. Thanks for taking the time to read.You are my support group.   Faye

<<Maize Bkgrd.jpg>>