Background

Compared to active surveillance, cumulative antibiograms can offer a relatively feasible, easy, accurate and inexpensive method to collect and predict antimicrobial susceptibility rates in a given geographic region. Aggregate reporting of antibiograms may fail to identify the influence of surrounding communities and will not allow for patient- or case-specific data as is the case in active surveillance.

The  Promoting Interoperability Programs, formerly known as the Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Programs, and more commonly known as Meaningful Use, was implemented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to encourage healthcare providers and organizations to implement and use health care information technology.

Meaningful Use includes public health reporting options. DHEC offers the following programs for eligible clinicians, hospitals, and critical access hospitals:

Part 488 Survey, Certification and Enforcement Procedures

• Part 488 Subpart E Section 488.332 Investigation of Complaints of Violations and Monitoring of Compliance
• Part 488 Subpart E Section 488.335 Action on Complaints of Resident Neglect and Abuse; and Misappropriation of Resident Property

Part 431 State, Organization and General Administration

Civil Money Penalties (CMPs) are monetary penalties imposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) against nursing homes that have failed to maintain compliance with federal requirements. A portion of CMPs collected from nursing homes are returned to the states in which the CMPs were imposed and may be reinvested or used for projects supporting activities that benefit nursing home residents and that protect and improve their quality of care or quality of life. CMP funds may be used for, but not limited to the following:

Nursing homes may not be established, operated, or maintained in South Carolina without first obtaining a state license from DPH in a manner provided by Article 3, Chapter 7, Title 44 of the South Carolina Code of Laws and DPH regulations. Licensed nursing homes may volunteer to participate in the federal Medicare and Medicaid programs, and DPH is charged with enforcing the federal standards on behalf of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). DPH ensures nursing homes in South Carolina comply with state licensing and federal health and safety standards.

DPH's Bureau of Healthcare Quality is responsible for licensing various healthcare facilities, activities, and professionals in South Carolina and for enforcing compliance with the applicable state regulations and statutes relating to these health care facilities, activities, and professionals to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people of South Carolina. In addition, we investigate complaints and serious incidents.

Licensing Inspections

Here are key facts about DPH's Healthcare Quality inspections:

Emergency preparedness resources for Medicare providers, including information on how to request 1135 Waivers, Fee-for-Service Emergency Q&As, and general Emergency Provider FAQs.

For potential waiver requests during an applicable event, it is helpful for requestors to clearly state, in any format they choose, information that will address the scope of the issue and the impact of the disaster including the following basic information:

Emergency Meal Planning

When a hurricane or other disaster strikes, kidney dialysis patients may be without their normal scheduled dialysis treatments until electrical power in hospitals or renal dialysis facilities have been restored. It is important to follow a limited diet if dialysis has to be missed. Therefore, dialysis patients will have to extend the life of their last treatment by watching their diets.

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