Health Compliance Inspector, Generalist (HP III) Home and Community Facilities - HFEMSD.

This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado.

About Us

At The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) we are dedicated to the Colorado for All philosophy - working toward a Colorado where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We support the basic human rights of our neighbors regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, education level, disability, socio-economic status, or any other visible or invisible identity. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we strongly encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Benefits

• Free parking and access to RTD bus lines
• Flexible working arrangements
• Retirement (PERA options), Medical and dental health plans
• Defined Benefit Plan or the PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401K and 457 plans
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year and generous personal time off
• Tuition assistance
• Wellness programs
• Professional development opportunities on a wide variety of subjects
• Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system
• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program

About the Role

The Work Unit: The Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division (HFEMSD) is responsible for the oversight and enforcement of a broad range of federal and state statutes and regulations applicable to a wide variety of healthcare facilities and services in Colorado, including hospitals, clinics, ambulatory surgical facilities, renal dialysis centers, emergency medical services providers, designated and non-designated trauma centers, long-term care facilities, and many other specific types of healthcare services. The division licenses, certifies, and surveys healthcare facilities and services; provides patient safety and healthcare quality programs; recognizes emergency medical service (EMS) education programs; certifies EMS providers and licenses air and ground ambulance services operating within the state.

This work unit exists to: (1) protect the health, safety, and welfare of patients/residents of healthcare facilities in the state of Colorado, by evaluating and securing compliance of licensed and certified facilities and providers, utilizing applicable federal and state laws/regulations and professional standards of practice; and (2) provide the public with information on healthcare facilities.

Responsibilities

• Assess the care, treatment, and quality of life provided by various health facilities through observations, interviews, and record review.
• Use experience, training, and judgment in evaluating and applying statutes, regulations, guidelines, policies, and procedures on a case-by-case, item-by-item basis for facility compliance/violation.
• Review self-reported occurrences and incidents of serious deficiencies and assess whether certified and/or licensed health facilities intervened appropriately.
• Write statements of deficiencies, identifying areas of non-compliance with federal and state requirements based on survey/investigation results.
• Act as a resource, educator, and interpreter of regulations for service providers and consumers, based upon established guidelines, policies, and procedures.
• On an unannounced basis, independently or as a member of an interdisciplinary team, determine whether the entity is operating in compliance with applicable statutes/regulations.
• Assess and evaluate healthcare facility quality of care, services, and treatment of the residents/patients as well as facility practices through observations, record review, and interviews with residents/patients, family members, staff, and outside agency and medical professionals.
• Collect and document evidence and survey results based upon observations, interviews, and record review.
• Analyze the evidence and survey results to determine whether and how the healthcare facility is out of compliance with applicable statutes and regulations.
• Write clear, concise, and legally defensible statements of deficiencies based on analysis of the documented findings and extensive knowledge of laws, regulations, and guidelines as set forth in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and State regulations, Principles of Documentation, and program-specific protocols, policies, and procedures, as applicable.
• Conduct pre-survey preparation activities for the survey team, including the selection of residents for inclusion in the survey sample.
• Facilitate all meetings between survey team members and between surveyors and facility staff.
• Attend meetings, serve on task forces or teams, complete projects, and perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Requirements

This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.

Qualifications

An applicant may meet the minimum qualifications for this job in one of two ways: through work experience alone or through a combination of education and work experience.

Experience Only

• Six (6) years of related experience in applicable healthcare in a facility or program regulated by the Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division.

Education And Experience

• A combination of related education in Nursing, Public Health, Social Work, or a closely related field, and/or relevant experience in healthcare in a facility or program regulated by the Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division or in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to six (6) years.

This experience must be substantiated within the Work Experience section of your application. "See Resume" will not be accepted. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.

Preferred Qualifications

• Relevant experience with the State of Colorado.
• Experience evaluating the quality of care, services, and outcomes in healthcare settings through observation, record review, and interviews.
• Experience analyzing evidence and survey findings to determine compliance with state and federal health regulations.
• Skilled in writing clear, concise, and legally defensible statements of deficiencies.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, with sound judgment and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication, professionalism, and conflict-management skills, including the ability to build respectful and productive relationships.
• Demonstrated integrity, accountability, and commitment to public service.
• Ability to manage competing priorities while working independently or collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team.

Conditions of Employment

• A pre-employment background check will be conducted as part of the selection process.
• Critical Status: Must be available in the event of an emergency (e.g., bio-terrorist attack, chemical attack, disease outbreak, or all hazards) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location. During this time, travel restrictions may be in place.
• Critical Status: Must be available in the event of the activation of the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location. During this time, travel restrictions may be in place.
• Travel: On average up to 50% and during peak times up to 75%, to conduct surveys of healthcare facilities across the state of Colorado. Must be willing to work occasional evenings, nights, weekends, or holidays depending upon circumstances of survey or complaint. On average, two to four overnight stays in a hotel when traveling.
• Physical Demands: Must be able to lift and carry up to 40lbs of equipment for extended periods of time. Must be able to walk or stand for extended periods of time including walking up and down multiple flights of stairs. Must be able to hold a tablet computer in a standing position.
• Must be vaccinated against COVID-19. Fully Vaccinated means two (2) weeks after a second dose in a two-dose series of the COVID-19 vaccine, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or two (2) weeks after the single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine, as defined by the most recent State of Colorado’s Public Health Order and current guidance issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment.
• Must obtain an influenza shot annually prior to the onset of the flu season or wear a mask while on facility/agency premises. Religious and medical exemptions and reasonable accommodation shall be addressed as required by law pursuant to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s vaccination guidance.
• Must be willing to work in environments where contagious diseases may be present.
• Must be willing to perform annual fit testing for N-95 masks, as well as complete annual training on donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Once employed in this position, must successfully complete and apply all required surveyor training (unless training is unavailable) within the first six (6) months of service.
• Requires the use and operation of state fleet vehicles. Conditions apply to the use of fleet vehicles such as location and availability.