SMQT- Surveyors & Survey Teams
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_81t4bs
1. The Role of the Surveyor: Your role as a surveyor includes:
- Assessing the quality of care and services of a health facility and relating those
findings to statutory and regulatory requirements
- Being part of a team that helps to evaluate a facility's compliance in providing
quality care, quality of life, and other structural requirements
- Basing your judgments on objective findings
2. CMS Depends on Its Surveyors: - As a surveyor, you are part of a team engaged
in a process that aims to ensure that beneficiaries receive quality health care in a
safe environment.
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) depends on your knowl-
edge, objectivity, professionalism, and commitment to monitor compliance with the
regulatory conditions & requirements.
- As a surveyor, you are part of a team that helps to evaluate a facility's compliance;
you must show knowledge, objectivity, professionalism, and commitment; and you
must base your judgments on objective findings.
3. How the Survey Team Composition is Determined: The survey, certification,
and enforcement of regulations for nursing homes is codified in past practices
regarding the composition of survey teams and expands eligibility requirements.
Survey team size will vary, depending primarily on the size of the facility being
surveyed.
The State Agency (or, for Federal teams, the regional office (RO)) decides how many
members will be on the team.
Survey team size is normally based upon the following factors:
- The bed size of the facility to be surveyed
- Whether the facility has a historical pattern of serious deficiencies or complaints
- Whether the facility has special care units
- Whether new surveyors are to accompany a team as part of their training
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, SMQT- Surveyors & Survey Teams
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4. Team Composition: The State Agency (or, for Federal teams, the RO) decides
what the composition of the survey team will be, as long as certain statutory and
regulatory requirements are met.
- Sections 1819(g)(2)(E) & 1919(g)(2)(E) of the Act & 42 CFR 488.314 require the
following:
- SNF and NF standard surveys must be conducted by a multidisciplinary team of
professionals, at least one of whom must be a registered nurse (RN)
- Surveyors must be free of conflicts of interest
- Surveyors must successfully complete a training and testing program in survey and
certification techniques that has been approved by the Secretary.
*** In other words, surveyors must successfully complete the CMS-approved training
AND pass Module A of the Surveyor Minimum Qualifications Test (SMQT).***
Surveyors who assess the requirements of quality of care, nutritional dietary ser-
vices, and drug therapy must also successfully complete Module B of the SMQT.
Within these parameters, the States (or, for Federal teams, the ROs) are free to
choose the composition of each team, and it is the State that determines what
constitutes a professional.
5. QUIZ QUESTION:
Regarding the composition of a Survey Team, who determines what consti-
tutes a professional?: ANSWER:
The State... HOWEVER, CMS offers guidance.
- Consider using more than one RN
- Select members from a variety of professions
- Select persons with clinical expertise and knowledge
- Consider including members of specialized disciplines
Make sure all members are qualified
6. CMS Guidance for the Composition of a Survey Team: 1 of 5
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https://www.coursehero.com/file/249894594/SMQT-Surveyors-Survey-Teamspdf/
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_81t4bs
1. The Role of the Surveyor: Your role as a surveyor includes:
- Assessing the quality of care and services of a health facility and relating those
findings to statutory and regulatory requirements
- Being part of a team that helps to evaluate a facility's compliance in providing
quality care, quality of life, and other structural requirements
- Basing your judgments on objective findings
2. CMS Depends on Its Surveyors: - As a surveyor, you are part of a team engaged
in a process that aims to ensure that beneficiaries receive quality health care in a
safe environment.
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) depends on your knowl-
edge, objectivity, professionalism, and commitment to monitor compliance with the
regulatory conditions & requirements.
- As a surveyor, you are part of a team that helps to evaluate a facility's compliance;
you must show knowledge, objectivity, professionalism, and commitment; and you
must base your judgments on objective findings.
3. How the Survey Team Composition is Determined: The survey, certification,
and enforcement of regulations for nursing homes is codified in past practices
regarding the composition of survey teams and expands eligibility requirements.
Survey team size will vary, depending primarily on the size of the facility being
surveyed.
The State Agency (or, for Federal teams, the regional office (RO)) decides how many
members will be on the team.
Survey team size is normally based upon the following factors:
- The bed size of the facility to be surveyed
- Whether the facility has a historical pattern of serious deficiencies or complaints
- Whether the facility has special care units
- Whether new surveyors are to accompany a team as part of their training
This study source was downloaded by 100000899562747 from CourseHero.com on 06-11-2025 10:38:41 GMT -05:00
1/7
https://www.coursehero.com/file/249894594/SMQT-Surveyors-Survey-Teamspdf/
, SMQT- Surveyors & Survey Teams
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_81t4bs
4. Team Composition: The State Agency (or, for Federal teams, the RO) decides
what the composition of the survey team will be, as long as certain statutory and
regulatory requirements are met.
- Sections 1819(g)(2)(E) & 1919(g)(2)(E) of the Act & 42 CFR 488.314 require the
following:
- SNF and NF standard surveys must be conducted by a multidisciplinary team of
professionals, at least one of whom must be a registered nurse (RN)
- Surveyors must be free of conflicts of interest
- Surveyors must successfully complete a training and testing program in survey and
certification techniques that has been approved by the Secretary.
*** In other words, surveyors must successfully complete the CMS-approved training
AND pass Module A of the Surveyor Minimum Qualifications Test (SMQT).***
Surveyors who assess the requirements of quality of care, nutritional dietary ser-
vices, and drug therapy must also successfully complete Module B of the SMQT.
Within these parameters, the States (or, for Federal teams, the ROs) are free to
choose the composition of each team, and it is the State that determines what
constitutes a professional.
5. QUIZ QUESTION:
Regarding the composition of a Survey Team, who determines what consti-
tutes a professional?: ANSWER:
The State... HOWEVER, CMS offers guidance.
- Consider using more than one RN
- Select members from a variety of professions
- Select persons with clinical expertise and knowledge
- Consider including members of specialized disciplines
Make sure all members are qualified
6. CMS Guidance for the Composition of a Survey Team: 1 of 5
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2/7
https://www.coursehero.com/file/249894594/SMQT-Surveyors-Survey-Teamspdf/
