When is a Plan of Correction required following a survey deficiency?

When is a Plan of Correction required following a survey deficiency?

• A. Immediately close the facility.
• B. Only require a Plan of Correction for major deficiencies.
• C. After a deficiency is identified in a survey, facilities must develop and implement a Plan of Correction.
• D. There is no obligation to address deficiencies.

Answer: (C)

When a deficiency is identified in a survey, a Plan of Correction is required. This plan is a formal, written commitment that explains what happened, the specific corrective actions the facility will take to fix the deficiency, and how those actions will prevent recurrence. It should assign responsibility, set realistic start and completion dates, and describe how the facility will monitor ongoing compliance to ensure the issue doesn’t recur. Regulators typically expect a Plan of Correction for each deficiency and may follow up with a re-survey or review to verify that the corrective actions were implemented effectively. The goal is timely, verifiable correction, not immediate closure or ignoring the deficiency. Deficiencies—whether major or minor—generally require some corrective action, and there is an obligation to address them.

When a deficiency is identified in a survey, a Plan of Correction is required. This plan is a formal, written commitment that explains what happened, the specific corrective actions the facility will take to fix the deficiency, and how those actions will prevent recurrence. It should assign responsibility, set realistic start and completion dates, and describe how the facility will monitor ongoing compliance to ensure the issue doesn’t recur. Regulators typically expect a Plan of Correction for each deficiency and may follow up with a re-survey or review to verify that the corrective actions were implemented effectively. The goal is timely, verifiable correction, not immediate closure or ignoring the deficiency. Deficiencies—whether major or minor—generally require some corrective action, and there is an obligation to address them.