HFC Nurse III Surveyor, Non-Supervisor

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS•San Antonio, TX

46d•$7,474 - $8,886•Onsite

About The Position

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. As part of a collaborative team of public servants, a nurse III protects patient’ health and safety by conducting on-site inspections and investigations in Texas Healthcare provider settings (ASCs, ESRDs, Hospitals, Emergency Rooms, New Licensure and Re-Licensure of facilities, Birthing Centers, Psychiatric facilities, and other activities related to health services regulation) to assess their compliance with state and federal laws and rules. This position offers a competitive starting salary; excellent state benefits, including health insurance and retirement; and the opportunity to regularly travel to different facilities within a region and across the state. In this front-line field position, a surveyor is mobile and flexible and performs minimal work at an office, though the role does require writing reports detailing any deficiencies/violations against a facility and narrative to support regulatory determinations. Regulatory Nurse Surveyor works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Performs advanced (senior-level) nursing support for regulated health care facilities and stakeholders.

Requirements

Must be registered as a Registered Nurse in the State of Texas or a state that recognizes reciprocity through the Nurse Licensure Compact.
3 Years of registered nursing experience required.
Must have reliable transportation.

Nice To Haves

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in nursing or from an accredited nursing program is generally preferred.
Experience and education may be substituted for one another on year to year basis.

Responsibilities

Conducts recertification surveys, initial surveys, complaint investigations and follow-up visits at regulated health facilities to determine compliance with state and federal regulations.
Evaluates health facility providers’ plans of correction for acceptable corrective action on cited deficiencies and refers for state and federal enforcement action as appropriate.
Prepares and completes appropriate reports accurately and on a timely basis with specific deadlines.
May serve as a preceptor for orientation of new surveyors.
May represent the department at stakeholder or professional meetings.
May be requested to assist in a variety of roles during emergency situations or in other activities as assigned.
Has extensive latitude in completing essential job functions. Responds to inquiries whether by e-mail, telephone, or in person. Follows the State Operations Manual.
Database responsibilities include planning, developing, and implementing data entry, report construction, workload monitoring, and quality assurance in TULIP, ASPEN (ACO/ACTS), IQIES, SharePoint, Microsoft Office Suite and other systems.
Conduct on-site surveys and investigations of licensed and or Medicare certified health care facilities to determine compliance with applicable state and federal laws, regulations, and rules. Regulated health facilities surveyed and investigated include, in part, hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, end stage renal disease facilities, birthing centers, and rehabilitation facilities.
Analyzes, compiles and reviews complex, technical information derived from clinical record reviews, facility management and business record reviews, patient, consumer and facility staff interviews, and onsite observations.
Evaluates management, supervision and quality of care delivery.
Determines the validity of the allegations in the complaint and compliance with state and federal regulations, and documents survey and investigation findings in the Automated Survey Processing Environment (ASPEN).
Complies with the Principles of Documentation when preparing deficiency reports.
Reviews plans of correction submitted by healthcare facilities to determine acceptability.
Develops recommendations for adverse state enforcement action and federal termination action if applicable and refers to other regulatory entities if appropriate.
Submits travel timely, accurately and according to policy; enters leave in CAPPS timely.
Plans, assigns and/or supervises the work of other survey staff and survey teams.
Provides consultation and serves as a preceptor and mentor in the orientation and initial training of newly employed surveyors.
Uses the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Surveyor Training Orientation Program for the Newly Employed Surveyor and the specific laws and regulations for each health facility type to teach the survey process.
Uses standardized reports to compose field evaluation reports of newly employed surveyors.
Participates in training workshops to enhance the skills of surveyors.
Assists management and quality assurance program staff in the development and implementation of quality assurance processes.
Represents the agency by providing information, collaborating with stakeholders, customers, other state agencies and federal partners.
Responds to inquiries and requests from providers and health care consumers regarding regulated facilities, both verbally and in writing utilizing word processing software, such as Word.
Performs related work as assigned maintaining flexibility and openness to assist the program in achieving goals, objectives and required timelines.
Completes licensing inspection or survey reports detailing deficiencies, recommended remedies, and narratives to support regulatory findings.