Dementia Focus Surveys

On November 27, 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) posted a survey and certification letter, S&C 16-04-NH, explaining the updates to the Focus Dementia Surveys.

In addition to the discussion of the background of this particular survey type, the results of the pilots that were completed in 2015 and subsequent expansion of the process, CMS has included the tools that the survey team will utilize when they conduct these surveys. The basis of the focus surveys is to ensure that the facility staff is in compliance with F-309 Care and Services for a Resident with Dementia, which was updated last year. Please know that these surveys can result in citations related to this tag and any others that are unrelated to dementia, should issues arise during the survey.

Any facility that admits residents with a diagnosis of dementia, whether there is a designated specialty unit or not, should become familiar with the survey process and prepare their staff for the interviews and intense scrutiny that will occur when the survey team arrives at the facility.

It is important to utilize the tools that are the basis of the survey process, as part of the facility’s education and development programs as well as their QAA and/or QAPI activities. Knowing what the survey team will be expecting will help to prepare, and result in positive outcomes for the resident as well as the provider.

The survey and certification letter is located at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/Downloads/Survey-and-Cert-Letter-16-04.pdf.

If you have any further questions about focus dementia surveys or would like to schedule a mock survey with one of our clinical specialists, please contact a member of our Health Care Team at 847-282-6300.

Information contained herein is accurate at the time of publication. We recommend that you consult with your Marcum advisor before implementing any action.