Topeka achieves infection control survey excellence twice in 20 days

Topeka Presbyterian Manor earned a zero-deficiency survey for two focused infection control surveys for their health care center in November. The surveys were conducted by the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) on behalf of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

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.

Topeka Presbyterian Manor has had two such surveys since the outbreak began at the community in late October. The first survey was completed November 3 and a second one was completed November 23. The community received zero deficiencies for infection control in the health care center on both surveys.

“A zero deficiency survey is always something to celebrate, because it is difficult to achieve,” said Heather Pilkinton. “To have zero deficiencies on two focused infection control surveys at our community within 20 days of each other in the middle of fighting this pandemic really affirms how hard this team has worked to keep our residents and each other safe every day. You can do everything right, and still the virus can find a way into your community. But you must continue to fight, no matter what. That’s what we’re doing at Topeka Presbyterian Manor.”

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

For more information about Topeka Presbyterian Manor, contact Rose Dahlgren, marketing director, at 785-272-6510 or rdahlgren@pmma.org.

‍