Aug. 27, 2020—Earlier this month, Collington’s skilled nursing facility received a deficiency free infection control survey. This is a huge accomplishment for our community, especially during these unprecedented times. Chief Operating Officer, Megan Barbour, and Health Services Administrator, Hope Nevins, led the meeting with the surveyor from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Upon her arrival our team was told it would be a very focused and straightforward survey, leaving little gray area for anything in between. Though we know our staff and community, and were confident in our abilities, it was still a pleasant and welcome note to hear that there was not one area of concern found throughout the survey. The CMS representative even said that Collington was the “fanciest” community she had ever seen and was sincerely impressed!
Aspects of the survey included examining the entrance and check in procedures such as temperature checks and questioning, examining the Assisted Living and Memory Care neighborhoods on the 3rd floor, from security to the elevators, and looking at the 4th floor of the Chesapeake which is our skilled nursing neighborhood.
All COVID policies, procedures, and communication efforts were looked over closely to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents here at Collington. The surveyor watched how team members washed their hands, used sanitizer, checked all personal protective equipment (PPE), mask wearing and social distancing measures, and went in depth into medical records of those who had been affected by COVID. During a time where infection control measures are more important than ever, receiving a deficiency free rating is something to be incredibly proud of. “Proper safety and infection control measures for both residents and team members is our number one focus and priority during this pandemic,” Megan Barbour commented, “the team has been staying up to date on COVID-19 information, mitigation efforts, infection control measures, ensuring adequate personal protective equipment and trying to come up with creative ways to keep residents and families connected.”
At the end of the survey, an exit meeting was held where the CMS representative had the opportunity to give any recommendations or comments she had regarding the state of the facility, but she had not a single recommendation to give. The surveyor was impressed to see the way the team handled COVID and the success Collington had in keeping our residents and staff members safe.
“Receiving a deficiency free rating for an infection control COVID-19 focused survey is a great accomplishment. The team members here at Collington demonstrated a superior level of preparation, consistency and commitment in reaching this milestone,” said Hope Nevins. “The fight to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 is a daily battle. The deficiency free rating from the COVID-19 focused survey was one tool that highlights Collington’s commitment in achieving this task.”
We want to thank each and every team member for the part they played in helping us achieve a deficiency free survey. In such an unusual and uncertain time, we are all facing many unknowns, but our staff has remained diligent in their efforts to contain the spread of COVID within our community and we could not be happier with the level of success we have achieved.