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CMS surprise visit ends with exit conference with LBJ officials

Focus was on the hospital-wide nine conditions of participation from the last report
joyetter@samoanews.com

“Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement, nursing staffing supervisions and nursing care plan, medical supplies in the wards, physical environment, donated equipment to the hospital, life safety code issues, infectious control issues, respiratory care services, etc.” were some of the issues that were noted during the exit conference with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) officials, according to the Hospital Chief Executive Officer, Taufete’e John Faumuina.

The CMS arrived in the territory on January 20, 2016 for their usual “unannounced visit” and Samoa News reached out to the CEO for a comment however all he stated at the time was that he welcomes the “unannounced” visit by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Yesterday, the CEO in an email told Samoa News that the hospital and CMS held an exit conference late Friday afternoon. “The focus was on the hospital-wide nine conditions of participation from the last report.”

Taufete’e said that as usual the CMS team briefly reported on the needed improvements or lack thereof, based on the physical site visit and inspections, and interviews with the patients and the employees.

“According to CMS, their work is to report on what is wrong and lacking in terms of employee performance and the conditions of the equipment being used, the physical conditions and environment of the facility and the availability of supplies to provide quality health care for the patients.

“It is important to note that they are not here to report on the good side of things and the improvements being made.

“Some areas mentioned during the exit conference were the Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement, nursing staffing supervisions and nursing care plan, medical supplies in the wards, physical environment, donated equipment to the hospital, life safety code issues, infectious control issues, respiratory care services, etc.,” Taufete’e said.

He further said that the CMS team, upon return, will submit its report in 10 working days on their findings, and LBJ will respond and submit its Plan of Corrections in 10 days.

“It was made clear during this visit that CMS does not have to respond back to LBJ's Plan of Corrections. The question that some may have, is why does LBJ have to go through this exercise with CMS. Simple. money.

“In order for LBJ to qualify for Medicare/Medicaid reimbursements, LBJ must comply and meet the Conditions of Participation set by CMS.

“The CMS visits are required to confirm and verify that LBJ is meeting and is in compliance with these conditions, otherwise, we will lose our Certificate of Participation.” Taufete’e said, adding that equally important to CMS funding is that “LBJ uses this as a vehicle to continue improving the quality of health care services for its patients and the community. And we thank, CMS for providing this motivating tool to enhance our services.”