Health Facilities Surveillance Nurse

Job Responsibilities

1.  Under general supervision, travels to conduct surveys of Home Health Agencies, hospices, Health Maintenance Organization; rehabilitation, speech physical therapy and free standing x-ray services and other related services to determine level of compliance with State Licensure requirements and Federal Medicare/Medicaid certification standards.
• Prepares federal reports and other monthly reports to document survey findings.
• Inspects health facilities (Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Centers, End State Renal Disease Centers) to determine level of compliance with State licensure requirements and Federal Medicare/Medicaid certification standards.
• Conducts and participates in on-site visits, preplanning, entrance and exit conferences.
• Provides information regarding laws, licensure and certification standards rules and regulations, policies and procedures.

2.  Prepares licensure and certification survey forms and reports of findings.
• Reviews contents and significance of survey with various operating and management personnel of the facility or agency.
• Keeps supervisor advised of status and progress of survey documents.
• Submits survey package with all required documentation within prescribed time limits.

    
3.  Investigate complaints as assigned.
• Prepares reports of complaint findings and, under direction f Health Facilities Surveillance Nurse Supervisor.
• Informs operating personnel concerning findings.
• Assists in resolving complaints.

4.  Maintains up-to-date State Operations Manual under Medicare Program for use in survey work, documentation requirements and consultations.
• Maintains up-to-date Licensure Laws, Rules and Regulations and policy documents for use in Licensure activities.

5.  Provides technical assistance to facilities in emergencies.
• Provides assistance with relocation of residents in emergency situations.
• Ensures facilities comply with regulations for resident safety and resident rights during emergencies.
• Coordinates with other federal, state or local agencies assisting in the emergency.

6.  Participates in staff meetings and assist with orientation of newly employed health facilities surveillance nurses and other Department staff as directed.

7.  Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

1.  Requires (a) graduation from an approved nursing education program resulting in an associate or a diploma degree in nursing and three years of professional nursing experience or, (b) a bachelor’s degree in nursing and two years of professional nursing experience or, (c) a master’s degree in nursing.

    
2.  Requires licensure as a Registered Nurse in the State of Illinois.

Preferred Qualifications

• One year experience in long-term care setting.
• Three years professional nursing experience.
• Two years experience participating in the survey process for completion of all survey functions including but not limited to annual recertification, licensure, follow-ups, complaints and incident investigation surveys.
• One year experience in Microsoft Word, processing, and spreadsheet applications (i.e., Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint).
• One year experience preparing complex written and oral reports.
• Ability to exercise judgement, discretion and maintain confidentiality during the conduct of the survey process.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties.
• Requires appropriate, valid driver’s license.

*The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.