HEALTH FACILITIES SURVEILLANCE NURSE

Agency Marketing Statement

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is tasked with the oversight of communities within Illinois to achieve and maintain optimal health and safety. With an annual budget of over $2 billion in state and federal funds, 7 regional offices, 3 laboratories and over 1,200 employees, IDPH is equipped to fulfill its mission of protecting the health and wellness of the people of Illinois through the prevention, health promotion, regulation and control of disease and injury.

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Public Health is seeking a highly motivated individual to conduct surveys, investigations and monitoring visits of long-term care facilities to determine compliance with State Licensure requirements and/or Federal Medicare/Medicaid certification regulations. Prepares licensure and certification survey/investigation forms, memoranda and reports of findings. Conducts on-site monitoring visits at non-compliant facilities.

Job Responsibilities

• Travels and conducts surveys of skilled and intermediate care nursing homes, shelter care facilities, veterans homes and related facilities to determine level of compliance with State Licensure regulations and Federal Medicare/Medicaid (Title XIX and XVIII) certification standards. Prepares federal certification and State Licensure Survey reports and related compliance documents as required by State Licensure and Federal Certification Survey Policies to document survey findings. Conducts complaint and incident report investigations at regulated facilities or unlicensed facilities pursuant to the requirements of the Nursing Home Care Act and Medicare/Medicaid standards.- Serves as a team leader or member as assigned.
• Prepares licensure and certification survey/investigation forms, memoranda, and reports of  findings as required. Documents survey/investigation findings in accordance with the mandated federal principles of documentation. Reviews contents and significance of survey with various operating and management personnel of the facility or agency. Keeps supervisor advised of status and progress of survey documents. Submits survey package with all required documentation within the prescribed timelimits. Appears as a witness in Department or non-department hearings or court actions pursuant to survey findings documented.
• Conducts on-site monitoring visits at non-compliant facilities pursuant to the monitoring requirements established by the Nursing Home Care Act. Prepares monitoring reports and makes recommendations to supervisor regarding the status of the health and safety of residents at monitored facilities. Conducts on-site investigations in response to incident reports of facility emergencies or disasters that impact the health and safety of facility residents. Provides assistance with relocation of residents in emergency situations. Keeps supervisor advised of stats and progress of monitoring visits and emergency incident report investigations.
• Participates in staff meetings and training sessions designed to improve survey performance. Assists with orientation of newly employed health facilities surveillance nurses.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned within the scope of the responsibilities enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires (a) graduation from an approved nursing education program resulting in an Associate or a Diploma Degree in Nursing and three years of professional nursing experience or, (b) a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and two years of professional nursing experience or, (c) a Master’s Degree in Nursing.
• Requires licensure as a Registered Nurse in the State of Illinois.

Preferred Qualifications

• One year experience in long-term care setting.
• Three years professional nursing experience.
• Two years experience participating in the survey process for completion of all survey functions including but not limited to annual recertification, licensure, follow-ups, complaints and incident investigation surveys.
• One year experience preparing complex written & oral reports.
• One year work experience in Microsoft Word, processing, and spreadsheet applications (i.e., Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, Excel PowerPoint).
• Ability to exercise judgement, discretion and maintain confidentiality during the conduct of the survey process.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires physical, visual, and auditory ability to carry out assigned duties.
• Requires ability to travel.
• Requires a valid driver’s license.