Another quality assurance tool
is Online Survey Certification and Reporting record, or OSCAR. It
contains a computerized database of survey results for long-term care
facilities. OSCAR shows how well a facility has met regulations in
the past and provides on-site surveyors with background information
on past performance. It also has compiled data on resident
characteristics and conditions nationwide.
For example, OSCAR data can let a surveyor compare
the percentage of residents in a facility who undergo treatment for
depression with regional, state, and national averages. That helps
the surveyor identify areas where a facility might differ from the
norm and investigate that area further.
