Zero deficiencies for Wichita PMMA’s infection control surveys

Wichita Presbyterian Manor’s health care center and assisted living received zero deficiencies on focused infection control surveys conducted by the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) this week. KDADS conducts nursing home surveys in Kansas on behalf of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

With zero deficiencies, Wichita Presbyterian Manor’s health care center and assisted living met all the standards for infection control set by CMS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The health care survey is one of more than 320 nursing home infection control surveys completed so far in Kansas at the direction of CMS. The federal agency, which oversees licensing and quality measures for nursing homes, announced in March that priority would be given to focused infection control surveys and required state surveyors to complete the surveys by July 31, 2020.

The assisted living survey is one of 160 state licensed adult care home and home plus inspections completed so far. Assisted living communities are licensed by KDADS.

Annual surveys were delayed in an effort to ensure nursing homes and adult care homes were prepared to respond to the threat of disease caused by the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

“Our employees live out our mission to provide quality senior services guided by Christian values every day” said Courtney Wolfe, executive director. “These survey results are tangible proof of our employees’ commitment and dedication to our residents and their families.”

Senior living communities are surveyed annually by their licensing agencies for compliance of regulations established by KDADS and CMS. These regulations are designed to ensure a standard of care is met. By meeting this standard, senior living communities are able to renew their licenses and continue to provide care.

Surveyors hone in on a facility’s adherence to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and CMS guidance for infection control practices to prevent disease at the community. The focused infection control surveys examines the facility’s policies and emergency preparedness related to a pandemic or outbreak.

Communities are assessed on staff and resident education on hand hygiene and coughing/sneezing etiquette, cleaning, screening of employees and residents, effective transmission-based precautions, proper use/discarding of personal protective equipment and signage at entrances and resident rooms.

Wichita Presbyterian Manor is a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), or life plan community, offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, long-term health care and short-term rehabilitation.

For more information about Wichita Presbyterian Manor, contact Stephanie Bergmann, marketing director, at 316-942-7456 or sbergmann@pmma.org.

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