Forum Messages

Any of you granted your vacation if "State" hasn't been to your facility yet? Its so difficult to plan things because you cannot take time off until "state" has come and gone. Infact, if state comes in on a day off (i.e. Sunday) or at 9pm, we are called and we have to come in. It doesn't matter if it is your day off or not. Anyone else have to abide by these rules? Where I worked before (non-profit) if state came in, we weren't called to come in on our day off- or at 9pm- much less we weren't denied vacations "should state happen to walk in the doors". So this is all kinda new to me. I think it might look a bit weird to them if it is a Sunday at 6pm and all of a sudden- I am there... won't that look suspicious? We were also told that when the state IS here, we cannot leave for the day until THEY leave for the day. Wondering if this is "standard practice" that I just am not used to.

By the way, this year state came on a sunday morn. & yes, we were called out. No days off while they are here. I get called out whether off or not.  This is all part of the job. I would not pospone a vacation however. As long as someone can be here, that you trust, from your dept. in case asked for anything or have to answer any questions.

This HAS been a directive from my administrator. So no use going to him about making an allowance. I booked a trip this past May for the end of August- out of state trip (Vegas) and my request was denied until state has come and gone, so I had to spend extra $$ on insurance for the trip. It doesn't matter (here anyway) if we have capable staff to cover while we are off, "All MANAGERS will be here when state is in the building." My administrator feels bad too, as he wants to take a vacation as well. Its a shame that (especially in the summertime) that our lives are on hold until state arrives. One of my biggest pet peeves with healthcare is the ridiculous expectations....I think that if you 'earned" the time off you should be able to take it when you want to. Just my opinion.

I am from WI and where I worked before (still in WI) we had different survyors than at this facility, and your practice in MI was the same as how it was at the other facility I was at. I don't agree with putting your life on hold due to a time frame - that is months long of a time frame, at that. So.... 5 months of the year we cannot make any plans "just incase"?? I can see the need for nursing to be available... but activities??? and as long as you are staffed, follow the calendar, know where the paperwork is- if they need anything and have usually requested information ready to hand out.

We just had our survey, from June 20-23.  Leading up to it, starting in April, we were told we were in our "survey window", or, to make sure all charting and paperwork is correct and timely.   Luckily, the ID team I'm on (DON, DSS, SSD and me the AD) are always on top of everything through out the year.

We all make sure that our departments are running correctly and up to state standards all year long, so there's never any need of panic or extra work to make sure charting or any paper work is correct.  That was something that came from our ED when we were all hired, and it's the correct thing to do.  Do it right all year long, so that when you're in your "window", there's no need for any extra work.  Vacations are never cancelled during the window. 

All department directors are expected to be at the SNF when the surveyors are there.  For us, they were at our facility from 6:30am until 5:30am.  LONG days, and very strange to be an AD and there at 6:30am!   Gave me a chance to experience a very quiet and calm atmosphere that isn't usually associate with a SNF!

Luckily, they were there for a short period of time, left around 2:30pm on the 23rd, we had an excellent survey, a couple of deficiencies for nursing and dietary, but not a one for activities, which hasn't happened in 3 years!

Again, if it's done correctly all year long, then you have nothing to worry about when survey comes in, but do expect no vacation time that week, which is hard to plan around since you never know when survey will be, but it is understandable, I feel.  NOT understandable is no vacation time during your "window" though.  Maybe if all departments were doing it correctly all year long, that would change for next time??

In my 15+ years as Activity Coordinator, we department heads have never been permitted to book a vacation during the state window until after they come and go.  This goes for all department heads in the facility, and has nothing to do with our past performance... it's just how it is.   We also are called in as soon as the state shows up if we happen to be off that day, and we must have permission to go home each evening while they're here.  None of us like it, but there's no arguing it. 

I think it depends of the facility (especially if for-profit, non-profit) as I was director at a non-profit for over 11 years and was NEVER asked to come it when the state came in, I left at my normal time, we went on vacations..... never has this as an issue until coming to a large corporation for profit. It sticks tho... but we are all in the same boat, no special treatment for anyone. :)