Get Ready!  On-Site Technology is Coming to the Survey Process 

The new Quality Indicator Survey: (QIS).

The QIS, which has been, and continues to be, tested in states across the nation. It is a tablet (lap-top), PC-driven survey. To date the new QIS has demonstrated that surveyor findings are more objective and more irrefutable, due to the structured guidance given to surveyors during the course of an onsite survey. The QIS uses a standardized and uniform Data Collection Tool (DCT) onto which surveyors must record findings based on following a logical and sequential investigative process; for each quality of care and quality of life indicator. The steps in the investigative process are imbedded in the software program. The good news is that surveyor subjectivity will be minimized under the new QIS.

The QIS survey begins offsite through electronic completion of a CMS Offsite Preparation worksheet form. Among other offsite tasks, the facility’s MDS Quality of Care Indicators are calculated and imported into the “primary” laptop.

Therefore, don’t be surprised if surveyors visit your facility with laptops in hand, and USB flash drives in pocket. At that time, the Team Coordinator will be in possession of the “primary” pc, while all other surveyors will possess a “secondary” pc. All data collected by team members on their secondary laptops will be imported into the primary pc during survey; using their USB flash drive. All facility information, as collected, will continually be imported and processed during survey.

Another caveat, the survey team will have their own portable printer, as well, and at least one ream (hummm) of copy paper. The printer will produce, among other items, a facility-specific QCI Results Report (for surveyor use) that quantifiably indicates which QCIs exceed the threshold, and by what percent. A “Potential Citation Report”, will also be printed, based on data entered on the QIS DCT by all surveyors over the course of the survey. The latter item will be used by the survey team during the exit conference to report potential citations.

There’s lots more to the QIS process, but it already, with certainty, speaks to need for providers to have an equally thorough system of documentation in order to have an evidence-based means to demonstrate due diligence in providing quality care… and that’s where CovetCare comes in…☺

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