The Long-Term Care Unit ensures that State licensure and Medicare/Medicaid standards are maintained for nursing homes through unannounced on-site surveys, follow-up visits, and complaint investigations. These visits are conducted by survey staff, representatives of the State’s Office of the Fire Marshal (SOFM), and the local life safety authority. Enforcement actions are taken, when appropriate, to ensure compliance with State and federal regulations.
This unit also investigates complaints of resident abuse by staff and assists with criminal and civil prosecution of staff members who abuse vulnerable adults. This unit also has the responsibility for the certification of Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICF/MR).
The program through the nursing home Technical Assistance Unit performs a second, quality assurance oriented survey for Maryland nursing homes. This is a consultative and not a regulatory function. Best practices are shared with the nursing home in hopes that its own quality assurance practices will improve the quality of services and care. The Technical Assistance Unit collects data on nursing homes, for example with regard to pressure ulcer prevalence.
Explore comprehensive information on our Long Term Care program in the sections below:
