SNF Infection Prevention & Control

SNF Infection Prevention & Control

CMS significantly strengthened infection prevention and control requirements for long-term care facilities as part of the 2016 revised Requirements of Participation, and the COVID-19 pandemic added additional layers of federal guidance, reporting requirements, and survey scrutiny that remain in place today. The focused infection control survey — which CMS deployed during the pandemic and continues to use — evaluates facilities against a specific set of infection control requirements and can be triggered by a complaint, an outbreak, or a routine survey cycle.

Infection control citations — particularly those at Scope and Severity G or higher — have a significant impact on both Five-Star ratings and enforcement exposure. An outbreak that is not contained quickly and documented thoroughly can result in multiple high-severity deficiencies and significant financial penalties.

Service Areas

Infection Prevention and Control Program Assessment

• Comprehensive evaluation of the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) program against F880–F883 requirements established by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

• Review of program structure, policies, and governance

• Assessment of hand hygiene practices and compliance

• Evaluation of standard and transmission-based precautions

• Review of environmental cleaning and disinfection protocols

• Assessment of antibiotic stewardship integration within the IPC framework

Antibiotic Stewardship Program Review

• Evaluation of antibiotic prescribing patterns and clinical appropriateness

• Assessment of diagnostic criteria used to initiate antibiotic therapy (e.g., Loeb criteria or equivalent)

• Review of tracking and monitoring systems for antibiotic-resistant organisms

• Verification of compliance with CMS antibiotic stewardship requirements

Outbreak Response Consulting

• Real-time consulting support during infectious disease outbreaks (respiratory, gastrointestinal, and others)

• Guidance on immediate containment measures within the first 24 to 48 hours

• Support with cohorting, isolation protocols, and infection control interventions

• Assistance with communication strategies for residents, families, and staff

• Documentation support to ensure regulatory compliance during outbreak response

Focused Infection Control Survey Preparation

• Structured mock survey aligned with focused infection control survey protocols

• Observation of hand hygiene practices and PPE usage/availability

• Evaluation of cleaning and disinfection processes

• Review of isolation procedures and staff adherence

• Delivery of written findings report with corrective action plan

COVID-19 and Respiratory Illness Preparedness

• Review of respiratory illness prevention and response protocols

• Assessment of vaccination program implementation and tracking

• Evaluation of surveillance systems and reporting compliance

• Review of internal and external communication plans during outbreaks