A survey is an actual inspection and evaluation of?

• A. A health care organization or facility
• B. An individual patient
• C. A medication package insert
• D. A medical device

Answer: (A)

Surveys are on-site inspections of a health care organization or facility to verify that it meets applicable standards, regulations, and quality expectations. They examine how the facility operates—patient safety programs, staffing, policies, recordkeeping, environment of care, and infection control—to determine if the organization can consistently provide safe, quality care. The focus is the organization as a whole, not an individual patient. A survey isn’t about a single patient, nor is it limited to reviewing a medication package insert; those items are addressed through other regulatory processes. It also isn’t a general check of a specific medical device, though devices and equipment may be reviewed in the context of overall safety and compliance during the survey.