SMQT-Certified Nursing Facility Surveyor

Certified Nursing Facility Surveyor

The SMQT-Certified Nursing Facility Surveyor conducts regulatory compliance surveys of skilled nursing and long-term care facilities participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The Surveyor evaluates facility compliance with applicable CMS Conditions and Requirements of Participation, including requirements under 42 CFR Part 483, Subpart B, applicable State requirements, CMS survey protocols, and the State Operations Manual. The position requires an active/current Surveyor Minimum Qualifications Test (SMQT) certification and demonstrated ability to conduct CMS-compliant nursing facility surveys independently and as part of a multidisciplinary survey team. The Arkansas program anticipates approximately 1520 surveys annually, with facilities generally ranging from approximately 20 to 120 residents. Standard surveys are expected to take approximately 45 days, with team size determined according to CMS requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities The Surveyor will:

• Review previous facility survey information, complaints, deficiencies, Plans of Correction, and other available regulatory information.
• Participate in development of the pre-survey plan.
• Conduct offsite survey preparation in accordance with CMS procedures.
• Participate in entrance conferences and onsite preparatory activities.
• Conduct the CMS Initial Pool Process and related information-gathering activities.
• Review resident clinical records, facility policies, staffing documentation, quality data, incident records, medication records, care plans, and other documentation.
• Interview residents, family members, facility staff, administrators, clinical personnel, and other appropriate individuals.
• Observe resident care, medication administration, infection-control practices, dining, activities, resident interactions, staffing practices, and facility operations.
• Evaluate facility practices against federal and state nursing facility requirements.
• Identify and document potential deficiencies and determine whether evidence supports regulatory noncompliance.
• Participate in survey-team information analysis, decision-making, deficiency determination, and scope/severity discussions.
• Review Medicare, licensure, and complaint survey packets for completeness and accuracy.
• Review facility Plans of Correction for acceptability when assigned.
• Conduct or participate in entrance and exit conferences.
• Prepare Statements of Deficiencies and supporting documentation.
• Complete required CMS forms, reports, worksheets, and survey documentation.
• Enter and accurately record survey hours in applicable CMS systems, including CMS-670 time.
• Perform survey activities in accordance with Chapter 7 of the CMS State Operations Manual and current CMS survey resources.
• Maintain complete, accurate, defensible, and timely survey documentation.
• Coordinate with the State Survey Agency surveyor assigned by Arkansas Client.
• Submit required survey results and supporting evidence within required deadlines.

Required Qualifications Mandatory

• Current SMQT certification applicable to nursing facility surveys.
• Current professional healthcare license, where applicable to the individual's discipline.
• Knowledge of Medicare and Medicaid nursing facility Requirements of Participation.
• Working knowledge of: 42 CFR Part 483; CMS State Operations Manual; Long-Term Care Survey Process; CMS Long-Term Care Survey Pathways; CMS Principles of Documentation; deficiency identification and documentation; Plans of Correction; and CMS survey systems and reporting requirements.
• Ability to travel throughout Arkansas and remain onsite for multi-day surveys.
• Ability to successfully satisfy applicable background and registry checks.
• Strong interviewing, observation, investigation, documentation, and analytical skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of resident information and comply with HIPAA and applicable State privacy requirements.

Preferred Experience

• 3+ years of nursing facility, skilled nursing, long-term care, regulatory, quality, or survey experience.
• Previous employment with a State Survey Agency, CMS contractor, healthcare accreditation organization, or regulatory/compliance organization.
• Experience conducting: standard surveys; complaint investigations; revisit surveys; focused infection-control surveys; immediate-jeopardy investigations; and certification surveys.
• Experience preparing CMS-2567 Statements of Deficiencies.
• Experience applying scope and severity determinations.

Key Competencies Regulatory interpretation, clinical assessment, investigative interviewing, evidence development, deficiency writing, critical thinking, attention to detail, professional judgment, documentation, conflict management, and ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary survey team. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.