Compliance of Nursing Homes with Infection Preventionist Requirements

This technical report evaluates the compliance of nonprofit and government-owned nursing homes with federal requirements regarding the Infection Preventionist (IP) position. The report outlines the audit conducted by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) to determine whether these nursing homes adhered to federal regulations for infection prevention and control. The audit revealed that three nonprofit and two government-owned nursing homes may not have complied with the requirement for IPs to complete specialized training before assuming their roles. Based on the sample results, it is estimated that 117 nursing homes nationwide may not have met the federal standards during the audit period. The report emphasizes the potential health and safety risks for residents and staff due to noncompliance. The OIG recommends that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ensure that state survey agencies verify corrective actions taken by the nursing homes identified in the audit. CMS has concurred with this recommendation.