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VHCA (8//7/2008

The July Survey Analysis Report of VHCA’s Survey Management Analysis & Resource Tool (SMART) is now available.  SMART is an invaluable tool designed to help VHCA members identify potential trends in citations and to facilitate proactive quality improvement initiatives.  The web based programs allows participating members to create customized reports in “real time”  and to identify survey trends and citations across Virginia, VHCA Districts, and within companies. 

The July Analysis Report synthesizes information from the 75% of VHCA members who are now participating in SMART.  The analysis reveals that the percentage of annual surveys conducted concurrently with complaint investigations continues to increase while the percentage of revisit surveys has not appreciably changed over the past three years.  For 2008 to-date, the VHCA database includes one citation at the Immediate Jeopardy level which is related to hot water temperatures of 130 degrees in resident areas.  The most significant change in variables is an increase in deficiencies cited as substandard quality of care. 

To learn more about the top 10 deficiencies in the SMART database, the G level deficiencies cited with their specific Tag Descriptors, and changes in citation patterns, read the report today. If your facility has not yet taken advantage of SMART, contact Beverley Soble in the VHCA office at beverley.soble@vhca.org or Mary Chiles at maryltc@verizon.net for specific information on how to include your surveys in the database and access “real time” survey information.