
QIS solves these
problems through a new two-stage survey process based on clear, objective,
standards-based outcomes analysis. First,
the system interfaces with a national database of nursing home resident health
status information and performs a highly complex stratified random sampling
process of that data. Using laptop
computers, the survey team augments this data with additional observations
collected on site at the nursing home facility.
The entire set of data is then used to create over 200 outcomes, or
quality indicators, which are used to evaluate the subject facility against a
set of national norms. For any
quality indicators for which the facility performs significantly more poorly
than its peers, a second in-depth examination of potential causes is conducted
and in the process a body of objective evidence is gathered to support a
potential citation for a regulation violation.