How Often Are You Walking Your Facility Like a Surveyor?

How Often Are You Walking Your Facility Like a Surveyor?

Let’s get real for a second.

You can have your policies in place, your med books spotless, and your training logs ready.
 But if the physical condition of your building — especially the resident rooms and outside grounds — is slipping, you’re still going to get hit.

Surveyors don’t care what’s “in progress.”
 They care about what they see right now.

And if you’re not walking your facility weekly with AHCA eyes — you’re likely missing things.

🚪 Resident Room Spot-Checks

I recommend picking a day of the week and checking at least 10 resident rooms. Rotate them week by week. By the end of the month, you’ll have seen every room through a compliance lens.

Here’s what to look for:

1. Unapproved Medications in Rooms

If a resident’s 1823 says they need assistance with medication, there should be no OTC meds, creams, vitamins, or supplements in the room.
 This is one of the most common citations — and often missed by staff.

2. Signs of Physical Restraints (Including Bed Rails & Jerry Chairs)

Look at every bed. If a bed rail restricts the resident’s ability to get in or out of bed — and there’s no physician order on file — that’s a physical restraint.

Also check for:

  • Jerry chairs with trays or belts that can’t be removed by the resident

  • Recliners that prevent a resident from standing up independently

If it restricts movement and there’s no physician order, care plan update, and regular monitoring, it’s a violation.

3. Clutter or Safety Hazards

Rooms that feel overcrowded are a red flag.
 Look for:

  • Stacks of items around beds

  • Furniture blocking vents or walkways

  • In-room storage that poses a trip hazard

It’s not just a cleanliness issue — it becomes a safety and fire code problem fast.

4. Maintenance Red Flags

Things like:

  • Peeling paint

  • Loose or missing outlet covers

  • Broken blinds or leaking AC units

You might walk past them daily without noticing — but a surveyor won’t.
 Keep a running list of repairs as you go.

5. Resident Conversations

While you’re in the room, take a few minutes to talk to the resident.
 Ask how they’re doing.
 Are their needs being met?
 Do they feel heard?

You’ll often uncover small issues before they snowball into formal complaints.

🌿 Exterior and Grounds Walkthrough

Once a week, do a lap around the building — as if it’s your first time seeing it.

Look for:

  • Trash or clutter around entryways

  • Cracked sidewalks or uneven pavement

  • Faded paint, rusted railings, or damaged signage

  • Unsecured cleaning or maintenance tools outside

  • Dead landscaping or poorly maintained patios

Your grounds set the tone. And it’s often where surveyors start their visit.

🧠 Final Thought

If you’re only walking your building with “survey eyes” during survey week… you’re already too late.

Build this into your routine. Do it weekly. Bring your nurse or med tech with you.
 Teach your team to see what AHCA will see.

If you commit to checking 10 rooms per week, you’ll see the entire building every month — and you’ll catch the easy-to-fix issues before they become citations.

Want a simple weekly walkthrough checklist or help setting this up in your facility?
 Reach out — I’ll send you exactly what I use when helping operators prep for surveys.