Long-Term Care Survey Alert

Some facilities use accreditation as a strategy to make sure they're on track with resident care and safety and have the documentation to prove it. Life Care Centers of America, for example, views preparation for Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations surveys as an opportunity for its SNFs to review all of their policies, procedures and documentation, says Ann Brown, LCCA's director of accreditation. Through the accreditation process, LLCA also gets to ensure the adequacy of its facilities and personnel, Brown adds. LLCA has also provided training in environment of care and uses Joint Commission resources to update clinical information on its Web site, Brown reports. The Cleveland, TN-based corporation plans to have all of its SNFs accredited by mid-2003.