Behavioral Health Management: Improving Psych Operations with a Mock Survey
As healthcare organizations continue to provide high-quality patient care and maintain accreditation, it’s crucial to evaluate their operations regularly. One way to do this is by conducting mock surveys to assess compliance with regulatory requirements and identify areas for improvement. In this blog post, we’ll explore the role of mock surveys in effective behavioral health management and provide a step-by-step checklist for conducting a successful mock survey in a behavioral health setting.
What role does a mock survey play in effective behavioral health management?
A mock survey is a simulation of an actual survey conducted by an accrediting organization, such as The Joint Commission or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The goal of a mock survey is to assess the organization’s compliance with regulatory requirements, identify areas of non-compliance, and provide recommendations for improvement.
Conducting a mock survey allows healthcare organizations to:
- Identify areas for improvement before the actual survey
- Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements
- Enhance patient safety and quality of care
- Protect accreditation status
Interested in conducting your own mock survey?
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When should a hospital plan for a behavioral health mock survey?
Hospitals providing behavioral health services should plan for a mock survey at least six months before their actual survey. This timeline allows sufficient time to identify areas for improvement and implement corrective actions before the actual survey.
It’s important to conduct a mock survey regularly to ensure continued compliance with regulatory requirements which will help you to maintain accreditation status at the time of your actual survey.
If you’re ready to conduct your first mock survey with our help, check out our behavioral health consulting offerings before getting in touch with our team.
If you’re curious about how conducting effective mock surveys leads to better behavioral health management, download our mock survey checklist here.
The 10-step checklist for conducting a mock survey in a behavioral health setting
To help healthcare organizations conduct a successful mock survey, we’ve developed a 10-step checklist that includes the following:
- Review accreditation standards
- Assemble a mock survey team
- Develop a mock survey agenda
- Conduct a facility tour
- Review policies and procedures
- Review medical records
- Conduct staff interviews
- Observe patient care
- Evaluate emergency preparedness
- Identify areas for improvement
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What documents do I need to run an effective mock survey?
To conduct a successful mock survey, healthcare organizations will need to review and gather the following documents:
- Accreditation standards from the accrediting body (e.g., The Joint Commission, CARF, DNV or HFAP) or CMS
- Survey team members list
- Survey agenda
- Floor plan, patient room layout, equipment inventory
- Policies and procedures manual
- Staff Qualifications List, Training records
- Sampling of patient records, medical record audit tool
- Interview guide
- Emergency preparedness plan, emergency response drill evaluation tool
- Mock survey report template
By reviewing and gathering these documents, healthcare organizations will be better equipped to conduct a thorough and effective mock survey.
In conclusion, conducting a mock survey is a vital component of effective behavioral health management. By following our 10-step checklist and reviewing the necessary documents, healthcare organizations can identify areas for improvement, enhance patient safety and quality of care, and protect their accreditation status.
If you’re interested in conducting a mock survey on your behavioral health unit or facility, request a free consultation to learn how to get started.