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Nursing Home Providers Recognize Valuable Insights from Hospice Surveys Despite Regulatory Variances

hospice-survey

In the healthcare industry, administrators running both nursing homes and hospice services are noticing a stark contrast in survey experiences. Many find that hospice surveys tend to be more positive and collaborative compared to the often stressful and demanding surveys faced by nursing homes. Adopting aspects of the hospice survey process could benefit nursing homes, even if the regulatory landscape remains different.


Regulatory Load: Lighter for Hospice


It's no secret that skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) carry a heavier regulatory burden than hospice services. This naturally makes the survey process for nursing homes more challenging and stressful. Despite this, industry experts suggest that there are valuable lessons to learn from how hospice surveys are conducted.


Elizabeth McLaren, Senior Vice President at Covenant Living Communities and Services, sees an opportunity to shift towards a more collaborative and less punitive approach. She advocates for a stronger focus on patient satisfaction and staff interviews, elements that are more prevalent in hospice surveys.


The Collaborative Touch in Hospice Surveys


What stands out in hospice surveys is their collaborative nature. According to McLaren, the experience feels more like a partnership than an inspection. Surveyors spend time understanding the operations, providing constructive feedback, and fostering collaboration rather than focusing on finding faults.


Anne Shelley from LeadingAge Ohio describes hospice surveys as "kinder, gentler" compared to their counterparts in nursing homes. The hospice surveyors act more as consultants, creating a less harsh atmosphere.


Executive Insights: Hospice Surveys as Consultants


Executives managing both nursing home and hospice services in Ohio share their observations. They note that the hospice survey process feels less contentious than the SNF survey, which tends to create anxiety among staff. Hospice surveyors are seen more as consultants, contributing to a less punitive environment. The interaction with SNF surveyors is often described as more contentious.


Timing Challenges and Staff Burnout


Backlogs in state skilled nursing surveys may contribute to the challenging nature of SNF surveys. High turnover and burnout among survey teams post-COVID add to the difficulty. Tight deadlines and a high volume of tasks leave little room for a collaborative approach. Surveys are often cited as a significant factor contributing to staff burnout and resignations.


Simplifying Processes: A Call for Change


For the Train, Probe, and Educate (TPE) five-claim reviews in SNFs, operators have managed to streamline the process. However, some facilities need extended timelines and prolonged engagement with auditors. Simplifying information exchange and providing concise, relevant information could ease the burden on SNFs during audits.


Learning from Hospice: A Human-Centric Approach


Hospice surveyors have more time for each facility, allowing for a deeper understanding of operations. The absence of competing demands for their time, as seen in SNF surveys, contributes to a more comprehensive and human-centric approach.

While hospice surveys occur every three years, offering a breather to providers, SNFs face annual surveys, adding to the stress and frequency of scrutiny.


Interview-Driven Surveys: Shifting Focus


In the hospice space, surveyors actively engage in interviews with patients and caregivers, offering a more person-centered perspective. This shift from a purely documentation-driven approach could be a valuable lesson for SNFs, encouraging a more holistic evaluation of quality senior care.


As the nursing home industry grapples with the challenges of regulatory scrutiny and survey processes, the hospice experience stands as a source of inspiration. While regulatory disparities may persist, adopting collaborative, less punitive approaches and integrating interview-driven elements could contribute to a more positive and constructive survey environment for skilled nursing facilities. The focus on staff, patient satisfaction, and a streamlined approach may pave the way for a more resilient and compassionate future in the skilled nursing landscape.


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