§483.71 Facility assessment. The facility must conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for its residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies. The facility must review and update that assessment, as necessary, and at least annually. The facility must also review and update this assessment whenever there is, or the facility plans for, any change that would require a substantial modification to any part of this assessment.
§483.71(a) The facility assessment must address or include the following: §483.71(a)(1) The facility's resident population, including, but not limited to: (i) Both the number of residents and the facility's resident capacity; (ii) The care required by the resident population, using evidence-based, data-driven "methods" that considering the types of diseases, conditions, physical and behavioral health needs, cognitive disabilities, overall acuity, and other pertinent facts that are present within that population, consistent with and informed by individual resident assessments as required under § 483.20; (iii) The staff competencies and skill sets that are necessary to provide the level and types of care needed for the resident population; (iv)The physical environment, equipment, services, and other physical plant considerations that are necessary to care for this population; and (v) Any ethnic, cultural, or religious factors that may potentially affect the care provided by the facility, including, but not limited to, activities and food and nutrition services.
§483.71(a)(2) The facility's resources, including but not limited to the following: (i) All buildings and/or other physical structures and vehicles; (ii) Equipment (medical and non- medical); (iii) Services provided, such as physical therapy, pharmacy, behavioral health, and specific rehabilitation therapies; (iv) All personnel, including managers, nursing and other direct care staff (both employees and those who provide services under contract), and volunteers, as well as their education and/or training and any competencies related to resident care; (v) Contracts, memorandums of understanding, or other agreements with third parties to provide services or equipment to the facility during both normal operations and emergencies; and (vi) Health information technology resources, such as systems for electronically managing patient records and electronically sharing information with other organizations.
§483.71(a)(3) A facility-based and community-based risk assessment, utilizing an all-hazards approach as required in §483.73(a)(1).
§ 483.71(b) In conducting the facility assessment, the facility must ensure: § 483.71(b)(1) Active involvement of the following participants in the process: (i) Nursing home leadership and management, including but not limited to, a member of the governing body, the medical director, an administrator, and the director of nursing; and (ii) Direct care staff, including but not limited to, RNs, LPNs/LVNs, NAs, and representatives of the direct care staff, if applicable. (iii) The facility must also solicit and consider input received from residents, resident representatives, and family members.
§483.71(c) The facility must use this facility assessment to: §483.71(c)(1) Inform staffing decisions to ensure that there are a sufficient number of staff with the appropriate competencies and skill sets necessary to care for its residents' needs as identified through resident assessments and plans of care as required in § 483.35(a)(3).
§483.71(c)(2) Consider specific staffing needs for each resident unit in the facility and adjust as necessary based on changes to its resident population.
§483.71(c)(3) Consider specific staffing needs for each shift, such as day, evening, night, and adjust as necessary based on any changes to its resident population.
§483.71(c)(4) Develop and maintain a plan to maximize recruitment and retention of direct care staff.
§483.71(c)(5) Inform contingency planning for events that do not require activation of the facility's emergency plan, but do have the potential to affect resident care, such as, but not limited to, the availability of direct care nurse staffing or other resources needed for resident care.
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Observations:
Based on review of facility policy, review of facility assessment and staff interview, the facility failed to ensure include the direct care staff and input from residents, resident representatives and family members when conducting the facility assessment.
Findings include:
A review of the facility policy titled "Facility Assessment," last revised in June 2024, revealed that a facility assessment is conducted annually to determine and update the capacity to meet the needs of, and competently care for, residents during day-to-day operations, including nights, weekends, and emergencies. The policy further describes the team responsible for conducting, reviewing, and updating the facility assessment under bulletin #2. The team includes leadership and management, such as the Administrator, a representative of the governing body, the Medical Director, the Director of Nursing, and other department heads as needed. It also includes direct staff, such as RNs, LPNs/LVNs, nursing assistants, and a representative of the direct staff if applicable. Finally, the policy indicates that residents, resident representatives, and family members may also be part of the team.
Review of the facility's facility assessment provided revealed a last revision date of December 8, 2025. There was no indication that the facility involved direct care staff and input from residents.
During an interview conducted on February 13, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., the Administrator was asked who participated in the development and revision of the facility assessment. The Administrator stated that the leadership team conducted the facility assessment.
When asked whether direct care staff, residents, or resident representatives provided input during the meetings in which the facility assessment was revised, the Administrator did not provide documentation or other evidence to demonstrate that such individuals participated in the process.
28 Pa. Code 201.18(b)(3) Management
28 Pa. Code 211.12(c)(d)(1) Nursing services
| | Plan of Correction - To be completed: 04/07/2026
Step 1 The facility can not retroactively correct.
Step 2 The facility revised its Facility Assessment process to require documented participation from: At least one representative from direct care nursing staff (RN/LPN/CNA). A resident and/or Resident Council representative. A family member and/or Family Council representative (if available). A standardized Facility Assessment Participation Log has been implemented to document attendees, roles, and input provided. The Administrator is responsible for ensuring invitations are extended and documented prior to finalization of any annual or interim revision.
Step 3 GoverningBody to educated NHA on regulatory requirements related to the Facility Assessment, including required interdisciplinary participation and documentation standards. Education emphasized the importance of incorporating frontline staff insight and resident/family feedback into operational planning, staffing analysis, and emergency preparedness considerations.
Step 4 The Administrator or designee will audit the Facility Assessment process annually and upon any interim revision to ensure required participants are included and documented. QAPI will review documentation to confirm compliance prior to final approval of any updated Facility Assessment. Ongoing oversight will ensure sustained compliance with regulatory requirements.
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