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SMITH HOUSE RECEIVES AN A+ ON ITS RECENT STATE SURVEY REPORT During the week of January 17, 2008, a team of surveyors from the Connecticut Department of Public Health visited the Smith House Health Care Center, the City’s 128-bed skilled nursing facility, to conduct its annual licensure survey. Smith House is operated by the City of Stamford through a management agreement with Premier Healthcare Resources, Inc., based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Premier oversees the clinical, operational and financial services at Smith House and reports to the City regarding performance in each of these areas. A board of directors also governs the facility and monitors its overall function. Allen Brown, Executive Director of the Smith House, reported that the State survey was conducted by four nurse consultants and a facilities safety engineer, all from the Department’s Division of Health Systems Regulation. The survey was carried out over the course of 5 days, during which time the surveyors conducted an intensive review of medical records; interviewed patients, their families and Smith House staff; reviewed policies, procedures and practices within the facility; and observed clinical care activities as they were being carried out by staff. Likewise, the surveyors conducted physical inspections of the building and all of its services and functions. At the end of the week, the surveyors invited staff to a review conference to report their findings and followed up with a written report detailing their findings. Mr. Brown indicated that the report showed the facility to be in full compliance with the public health code. He also pointed out that most industry experts and consumer watchdogs consider state surveys to be a key indicator of the overall quality of a nursing home and of the skill and training of its staff. As is customary practice in conducting State surveys, Mr. Brown reported that the 2008 Smith House inspection was carried out as a surprise visit and that the surveyors showed up at the Smith House without prior notification or announcement. | The spontaneity of such unannounced surveys assures that facilities will not be in a state of special readiness or preparation for the survey and that any findings resulting from the survey therefore reflect the everyday conditions and activities at the facility. During the survey, the Smith House was reviewed for its compliance with Public Health Code standards in areas such as resident rights, facility practices, quality of life, resident assessment, quality of care, nursing services, dietary services, physician services, rehabilitation services, dental services, pharmacy services, infection control, physical environment, and administration. All told, nearly 500 individual regulations were considered by the surveyors. The result - Smith House ‘aced its exam’. In fact, this year’s survey results were the best ever at Smith House and were believed to be among the best reported anywhere in the State. A copy of the inspection report will be posted on the bulletin board at Smith House after it is finalized by the Department of Health and returned to the facility.
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