N.J. Admin. Code § 5:27A-17.1

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 23, December 2, 2024

Section 5:27A-17.1 - Scope and types of surveys

(a) The Department, or another State agency to which the Department has delegated the authority for conduct of surveys either partially or fully, may conduct periodic or special inspections of licensed residential health care facilities to evaluate the fitness and adequacy of the premises, equipment, personnel, policies and procedures, and finances, and to ascertain whether the facility complies with all applicable State and Federal licensure regulations and statutes.

(b) The Department or its designee may also conduct periodic surveys of facilities on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or other Federal agency for purposes of evaluating compliance with all applicable Federal regulations or Medicare and Medicaid certification regulations.

(c) The Department may evaluate all aspects of patient care, and operations of a residential health care facility, including the inspection of medical records; observation of patient care where consented to by the patient; inspection of all areas of the physical plant under the control or ownership of the licensee; and interview of the patient or resident, his or her family or other individuals with knowledge of the patient or care rendered to him or her.

(d) All information pertaining to an individual patient shall be maintained as confidential by the Department and shall not be available to the public in a manner that identifies an individual patient, unless so consented to by the patient or pursuant to an order by a court of law.

(e) The Department may conduct a survey of a facility upon the receipt of complaint or allegation by any person or agency, including a patient, his or her family, or any person with knowledge of the services rendered to patients or operations of a facility.

(f) The Department may evaluate the quality of patient care rendered by a facility through analysis of statistical data reported by facilities to the Department or other agency, or by review of reportable event information or other notices filed with the Department pursuant to regulation. Upon receipt of information indicating a potential risk to patient safety or violations of licensing regulations, the Department may conduct a survey to investigate the causes of this finding, or request a written response from the facility to ascertain the validity of the data and to describe the facility's plan or current actions to address the identified findings.

(g) Following a reasonable opportunity for facilities to review and comment on the validity of the Department's statistical data related to the quality of patient care by facilities, the Department may make such information, as appropriately amended available to the public.

N.J. Admin. Code § 5:27A-17.1