ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor earned a second consecutive zero-deficiency survey infection control in the health care center December 14. The survey was conducted by the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) on behalf of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The community also had zero deficiencies on a focused infection control survey completed November 25.

 

Senior living communities are surveyed annually by their licensing agency for compliance of regulations established by CMS. CMS licenses skilled nursing facilities. These regulations are designed to ensure a standard of care is met. By meeting these standards, senior living communities are able to renew their licenses and continue to provide care.

 

The focused infection control surveys hone in on a skilled nursing facility’s adherence Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and CMS guidance for infection control practices to prevent disease at the community. Communities are assessed on staff and resident education on hand hygiene and coughing/sneezing etiquette, cleaning, screening of employees and residents, effective transmission-based precautions, proper use/discarding of personal protective equipment and signage at entrances and resident rooms. It also examines the facility’s policies and emergency preparedness related to a pandemic or outbreak.

 

CMS routinely sends surveyors to skilled nursing centers during an outbreak to assess the facility’s infection control practices. Arkansas City received the results of their latest infection control survey November 25.

 

“A zero deficiency survey is something to celebrate any time because it is so hard to achieve,” said Sarah Griggs, executive director. “To have zero deficiencies on two focused infection control surveys within a one-month time frame in the middle of fighting this pandemic really demonstrates just how hard this team has worked to keep our residents and each other safe every day. You can do everything right, and the virus can still find a way into your community. You must continue to fight, every day, and that’s exactly what we’re doing at Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor.”

 

Communities are assessed on staff and resident education on hand hygiene and coughing/sneezing etiquette, cleaning, screening of employees and residents, effective transmission-based precautions, proper use/discarding of personal protective equipment and signage at entrances and resident rooms.

 

Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor is a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), or life plan community, offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, long-term health care and short-term rehabilitation.

 

For more information about Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor, contact Sarah Griggs, executive director, at 620-442-8700 or [email protected].

 

Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor has served Cowley County since 1978 with independent and assisted living, long-term care, and short-term rehabilitation. Learn more at ArkansasCityPresbyterianManor.org. Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with 16 locations and 2 hospices in Kansas and Missouri. Learn more at PMMA.org.