06/09/2022

Survey Tip of the Week: Life Safety Code Documentation

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) will request a standard list of items for the life safety code (LSC) inspection as part of the annual recertification survey. ODH has recently updated their LSC Preventive Maintenance Manual which now includes a list of those documentation items. The list can be found on page twenty-five of the manual.

LeadingAge Ohio is hosting a life safety code webinar on June 22 where ODH representatives will provide the most up-to-date information on top Life Safety Code deficiencies and remedies, as well as other hot topics related to Life Safety. CMS Blanket waivers that are expiring will be covered along with common Emergency Preparedness plan trends. Updates and changes to the Preventative Maintenance Manual will also be discussed.

Recently ODH has confirmed that facilities may continue to use plastic barriers when the facility is experiencing a current outbreak. LeadingAge Ohio asked ODH to respond to this question due to the sunsetting of the blanket waivers. ODH has confirmed they will not cite facilities who continue to use this approach to manage outbreaks but reminds facilities to remove the barriers when they are no longer experiencing an outbreak.

LeadingAge Ohio encourages facilities to utilize the Ohio LTC Preventative Maintenance Manual and the Long-Term Care Survey Pathways to monitor for compliance. The survey pathways can be found on the CMS Nursing Home webpage, under the download section, and within the zip file called LTC Survey Pathways.

For more information about the citations occurring in Ohio, please join us on the monthly STAT: Survey Tips and Tactics call. Register now for the July 13 call at 10:00AM.

LeadingAge Ohio is sharing tips to assist members during the survey process. Send questions you’d like addressed in future Tips of the Week to Stephanie DeWees at sdewees@leadingageohio.org.