Office of Health Facilities Licensure & Certification

Mission

Under contract with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Office of Health Facilities Licensure & Certification assures that:

• Facilities comply with construction and fire and life safety standards. Engineers and environmental sanitarians review blue prints and drawings for new construction and renovation projects and make on-site visits during and after construction to ensure compliance. The department must approve use of space within a licensed or certified health care facility before it can be occupied and utilized.
  
  
• Facilities comply with regulations for level of service provided and overall operations for licensure and Medicare and Medicaid certification. Department surveyors (which include nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, laboratorians, x-ray technicians, and environmental sanitarians) review policies and procedures, staffing patterns and employee qualifications, orientation and in-service education, and standards of practice. They also review patient and personnel records, observe actual practice, and interview patients and staff.
  
  
• Registered and certified practitioners and providers safely utilize controlled substances. Agency pharmacists register practitioners eligible to prescribe and/or administer controlled substances and investigate reports of abuse.
  
  
• Training is provided to health care providers, and, occasionally to patient groups.