Resources and Tips for Preparing for the QIS
Resources: The most up-to-date and official information on the QIS process can be found on the University of Colorado’s Division of Health Care Policy and Research Web site. This site contains the QIS Resource manual, which is provided to state surveyors during their QIS training as well as the forms and tools used by surveyors during the QIS.
Tips:
• Make use of the QIS forms and tools for your survey prep and in your Quality Improvement process.
• MDS data are used to create the resident pool from which the Stage I samples are randomly selected and to calculate the MDS-based Quality of Care and Life Indicators. Make sure your MDS’s are accurate!
• Provide electrical outlets and adequate space for surveyors to set up their computers and printers.
• A form will be provided at the beginning of survey that outlines the time limits for all required information. This is provided at the entrance conference which takes place after the team has had an opportunity to set up their computers and obtain initial admission lists.
• Surveyors will need an alphabetized list of all residents currently in the facility with dates of birth. Only those residents who are physically present need to be noted.
• Surveyors will need a list of new admissions admitted no more than 30 days prior to extraction date (date MDS information is obtained from central computer). A form for this purpose will be provided by the surveyors upon entrance.
• Surveyors will use the same source for all weights (i.e., a weight log or a treatment record, but not both). For new admissions, they will want to see an admitting weight, a weight at two weeks and then monthly. All other residents will need monthly weights available.
Author: Kathy Pellatt, EQUIP Lead Quality Improvement Analyst