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CDPH Describes Hospital Surge Monitoring Visits, Other Survey Activity

For licensing & certification staff, quality and patient safety staff

This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued All Facilities Letter (AFL) 20-69, which outlines the survey activities the department will conduct for both hospitals and skilled-nursing facilities. Based on the daily COVID-19 data reported by hospitals, if CDPH determines a hospital is at risk of surging, the hospital will receive a phone call about its surge plan, any urgent needs, and whether it needs assistance from CDPH.

If a hospital is considered high risk, CDPH may conduct a surge monitoring visit to evaluate the hospital’s surge preparedness and infection control practices. CDPH has prepared the Hospital Surge Monitoring Checklist for hospitals to self-assess their surge preparedness and compliance with infection control requirements.  

Regarding survey activity for hospitals, CDPH will also: 

  • Prioritize complaints and facility-related incidents 
  • Conduct federal revisit surveys for hospitals that were cited an immediate jeopardy violation 
  • Conduct limited state licensing survey activities, including initial licensing, change of service, and change of location surveys 

Finally, CDPH recommends hospitals use the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services infection control checklist to conduct a voluntary self-assessment of their infection control plans and protections.