Adding Satisfaction Surveys to Nursing Home Ratings

By Richard Shank

Representatives from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) (federal regulators) met with nursing home operators in an open-door forum to discuss incorporating resident and family satisfaction surveys into the five-star quality rating system, which nursing home operators have wanted for years.

Discussions were centered on how best to phase in the use of these surveys. Issues about survey quality are of concern to both regulators and nursing home operators. As of the moment, regulators are considering three levels of use for the surveys. First, they can simply note that the nursing home utilizes a satisfaction survey as a standard part of operational planning. Second, they are considering developing a system of judging the quality of the survey. Finally, developing a standardized national survey administered by a third party is under consideration.

A total of 555 participants took part in the nursing home quality forum. More information regarding the outcome of this forum will be forthcoming at

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/OpenDoorForums/05_ODF_SpecialODF.asp.

Comments? Tell us what you think: askaia@matherlifeways.com