Facility Assessments

The nursing home industry is complaining about new facility assessment requirements from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) that aim to guide safe staffing decisions. However, CMS provided Critical Element Pathways to all facilities to make it easy to implement the new rules.  CMS updated the existing requirements by expanding guidance on data-driven and evidence-based metrics that mandate information on residents’ behavioral health.

Facilities now use the assessment for all staffing decisions. This includes developing, maintaining, maximizing recruitment and retention, and using the information for contingency planning. Although this strengthens staffing within facilities, some facilities may struggle with these assessments if data is incomplete or or inaccurate. However, the use of technology allows the assessment to be done accurately and completely with good data and easy collaboration from various clinical specialties.

The industry repeatedly warns that alleged staffing shortages, high operating costs, and inflationary pressures prevent them from providing sufficient safe staffing. An individualized facility specific assessment to determine the acuity of the residents is necessary to determine safe staffing levels. One size does not fit all. he facility assessment document is a detailed, data-based document to maintain and update because each facility’s level of service, the level of acuity,
the types of treatment protocols, and resident demographics need to be analyzed to determine safe staffing.

CMS’ intentions behind these new facility assessment requirements are to promote a well-rounded facility that includes transparency, improvement, and quality of care.