In an August 5, 2016 memo to State Survey Agency Directors, CMS announced plans to crack down on nursing homes and their employees who take demeaning photographs and videos of residents and post them on social media.

• Have your policy ready, and your training complete BEFORE your next survey!

Effective immediately, State Agencies must require survey teams to request and review facility policies and procedures that prohibit staff from taking keeping and/or distributing photographs and recordings that demean or humiliate a resident.  CMS requires surveyors to ask for the policy and training documentation in the next Traditional or QIS survey.

The memo also calls on state officials to quickly investigate such complaints and report offending workers to state licensing agencies for investigation and possible discipline against employees, administration and the governing body.

“Nursing homes must establish an environment that is as homelike as possible and includes a culture and environment that treats each resident with respect and dignity,” said the memo signed by David Wright, director of the CMS survey and certification group. “Treating a nursing home resident in any manner that does not uphold a resident’s sense of self-worth and individuality dehumanizes the resident and creates an environment that perpetuates a disrespectful and/or potentially abusive attitude towards the resident(s).”

CMS defines nursing home staff to include employees, consultants, contractors, volunteers, and other caregivers who provide care and services to residents on behalf of the facility.  So make sure each of these groups is educated on your updated policy.

You can read the memo in its entirety here:
https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/Downloads/Survey-and-Cert-Letter-16-33.pdf

If you need assistance in developing a policy or providing adequate training, call Mary L’Hommedieu before your next survey at 216-635-0017.