We are pleased to report WiHPCA continues to maintain and strengthen our relationship with the Division of Quality Assurance (DQA) at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. On March 10, we held our latest quarterly meeting with the regulatory agency.  As has been the case at past meetings, DQA provided participants with a review and discussion of numerous key issues, including survey deficiencies, complaint topics, and the number of new hospice applications.

DQA staff also provided an comprehensive briefing on the COVID-19 vaccine survey requirements, as surveyors will be reviewing COVID vaccination policies and employee tracking on every survey to ensure that all health care facility staff are at 100% vaccination rate or have approved exemptions or delays. Survey protocols were discussed, as were the following documents related to the health care staff COVID-19 vaccination requirements:

• QSO Memo 22-07-ALL

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/qso-22-07-all.pdf

• Attachment C - Hospice

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/qso-22-07-all-attachment-c-hospice.pdf

• CDC - Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-recommendations.html

Please see below a brief overview of what DQA reported on as it concerns surveys performed and complaint survey topics:

• Number of surveys performed in the last quarter:
• • Number of complaint surveys – 4
  • Number of recertification surveys – 2
  • Number of follow-up surveys – 1

• Complaint surveys topics – Top concern areas:
• • Patient Rights
  • Quality of Care and Treatment
  • Admission/Transfer/Discharge Rights
  • DNR Status Failure

The next quarterly meeting is scheduled for June. Stay tuned for more details and the opportunity to register. We certainly encourage participation from all WiHPCA members, as the meeting provides invaluable information and regulatory guidance from DQA.