Throughout 2019, Joint Commission surveyors detailed compliance with CMS expectation by CMS-A-tags. Surveyors already maintained a list of medical record documentation requirements they explored this information on tracers. But as of July 2019, the organizational survey activity guide now contains this list. And, although it is similar to the evidence detailed on tracers, we believe CMS A-tags present an opportunity.
CMS A-Tags
In fact, that opportunity is a learning exercise. Ask yourself this question.
“Do we all know how to find evidence of compliance somewhere in the medical record of the units involved in tracers to see if they can find all the required documents?”
In addition, here is one way to answer that question. Conduct a scavenger hunt with your staff. Determine how many documents they can find. Furthermore, engage IT experts or superusers to assist the staff on tracers.
What’s more, taking this approach you will help you better prepare for future surveys.
Darlene Laro
Can A tags be cited at critical access hospitals?
Expert Advice
Technically the acute hospital A tags cannot be cited in critical access hospitals which are regulated by the C tags for critical access hospitals. However the content in both sets of regulations have many similarities. This content is organized differently by COP’s but many of the general expectations are again similar. In general there is a recognition in the COP’s and C tags that critical access hospitals serve a somewhat different mission in rural communities as compared to larger hospitals in metropolitan areas.