(1) The department shall implement a quality assurance monitoring process for the purposes of conducting the surveys described in this part for the purpose of certification. The quality assurance monitoring process must include the quality assurance review of citations as described in this part. The department shall establish an advisory workgroup to provide recommendations to the department on the quality assurance monitoring process. Subject to subsection (2), the advisory workgroup established under this section must include a representative from the department, representatives from nursing home provider organizations, the state long-term care ombudsman, and any other representative that the department considers necessary or appropriate. The advisory workgroup shall identify and make recommendations on improvements to the quality assurance monitoring process to ensure ongoing validity, reliability, and consistency of nursing home survey findings.

    (2) Representatives from each nursing home provider organization that does not own or operate a nursing home representing 30 or more nursing homes statewide and the state long-term care ombudsman or his or her designee are permanent members of the advisory workgroup established under subsection (1). The department shall issue survey certification memorandums to providers to announce or clarify changes in the interpretation of regulations.

    (3) The department shall ensure that each nursing home survey team conducting a standard survey is composed of an interdisciplinary group of professionals, at least 1 of whom must be a registered professional nurse. Other members of the survey team may include social workers, therapists, dietitians, pharmacists, administrators, physicians, sanitarians, and others who may have the expertise necessary to evaluate specific aspects of nursing home operation.

    (4) The nursing home surveyors conducting a standard survey shall designate a quality assurance monitor. The individual designated as the quality assurance monitor shall ensure all of the following:

    (a) That survey protocols from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are followed.

    (b) That interpretive regulatory guidance issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is applied consistently and noncompliance with the interpretive regulatory guidance is documented in a clear and concise manner.

    (c) An entrance and exit conference is conducted in accordance with survey procedural guidelines established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

    (d) That the survey complies with this part.