In our previous post, nursing home negligence lawyers discussed the parties responsible for conducting inspections of nursing homes and how to view the reports and evaluations.  Inspections play an extremely important role in evaluating nursing homes, and assisting with the prevention of Illinois nursing home neglect.

Understanding the process of inspections is vital and Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys further explain this process.  In Illinois, the Department of Health details all protocols for inspections online.  In summary, they have around two hundred surveyors, and use a team approach to inspect each nursing home.  This team generally includes a registered nurse, environmental health practitioner and a nutritionist.  When complaint surveys are conducted, those with expertise in the specific area are utilized.

Usually, licensure surveys take three to four days to complete, ensuring the state’s inspection team can evaluate all areas of
procedures, practices and care, along with state and federal standards.  These standards can include activities, care plans, dietary services, health care, housekeeping, residents rights, quality of care and quality assurance.  In addition, the evaluation can include medical record inspections, interviews of the residents, family members or other staff members.  Additional reportable events are also examined, including personnel changes, suspected crimes, deaths, safety risks and accidents.

In general, nursing homes are inspected between six and fifteen months.  All inspections, whether standard or in response to a complaint are done without any notice given to the nursing home.  The schedule for the evaluations always changes; therefore, nursing homes do not have a chance to prepare or predict.  The process for conducting licensure surveys and complaint evaluations has improved in Illinois.  Nursing home neglect is unacceptable and these inspections assist to improve care for residents in long-term care environments.

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