Successfully completing an inspection and survey by Medicare can be a daunting task. At Becker's ASC 21st Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, a panel of administrators will discuss Medicare inspections and surveys as well as how ambulatory surgery centers can best prepare for them.
Tracey Harbour, BSN, RN, administrator at Surgery Center of Pinehurst (N.C.), one of the panelists, discusses the focus of the session as well as overlooked aspects of ASC survey readiness. The panel also includes Margaret Acker, administrator at Southwest Surgical Center in Grand Rapids, Mich., and Jennifer K. Wilbur, CFO/TOSC assistant administrator at Spokane, Wash.-based Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists.
Question: What will be the focus of the session and what are you hoping attendees will get out of it?
Tracey Harbour: Tips as well as helpful ideas on how to be prepared when a surveyor shows up at your center unannounced.
Q: What are some of the most overlooked aspects of survey readiness at ASCs?
TH: Honestly, just not being prepared. It's very unnerving when a surveyor shows up unannounced. As most administrators may attest to, the surveyors show up on the most chaotic day ever. Other overlooked aspects are not being aware of the current regulations and not knowing what the most common cited deficiencies are.
Q: How can ASCs better prepare for Medicare inspections and surveys?
TH: Know what is in CMS and state regulations and ensure your policies follow them. Prepare and have available a CMS survey manual with current and up-to-date policies as well as current meeting minutes from QAPI, board, staff, safety, employee list, active medical staff list, organizational chart, etc.
Have mock surveys performed for the clinical setting and life safety area by a consultant or your management company. Also, network with your peers. Share each other's survey checklist — keep reviewing the list and checking to ensure you are current. Know the most common cited deficiencies in your state. Prepare your staff with survey readiness through education.
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Tracey Harbour, BSN, RN, administrator at Surgery Center of Pinehurst (N.C.), one of the panelists, discusses the focus of the session as well as overlooked aspects of ASC survey readiness. The panel also includes Margaret Acker, administrator at Southwest Surgical Center in Grand Rapids, Mich., and Jennifer K. Wilbur, CFO/TOSC assistant administrator at Spokane, Wash.-based Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists.
Question: What will be the focus of the session and what are you hoping attendees will get out of it?
Tracey Harbour: Tips as well as helpful ideas on how to be prepared when a surveyor shows up at your center unannounced.
Q: What are some of the most overlooked aspects of survey readiness at ASCs?
TH: Honestly, just not being prepared. It's very unnerving when a surveyor shows up unannounced. As most administrators may attest to, the surveyors show up on the most chaotic day ever. Other overlooked aspects are not being aware of the current regulations and not knowing what the most common cited deficiencies are.
Q: How can ASCs better prepare for Medicare inspections and surveys?
TH: Know what is in CMS and state regulations and ensure your policies follow them. Prepare and have available a CMS survey manual with current and up-to-date policies as well as current meeting minutes from QAPI, board, staff, safety, employee list, active medical staff list, organizational chart, etc.
Have mock surveys performed for the clinical setting and life safety area by a consultant or your management company. Also, network with your peers. Share each other's survey checklist — keep reviewing the list and checking to ensure you are current. Know the most common cited deficiencies in your state. Prepare your staff with survey readiness through education.
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