Webinars, Other Education, & Events

Survey Readiness Training

How to Prepare for and Achieve Successful DOH Surveys

 Survey readiness is not a one-time event—it’s an organizational culture.

Survey success begins long before surveyors arrive. This program equips Assisted Living leaders with the knowledge, systems, and confidence needed to transform survey preparation from a stressful event into an ongoing process of excellence. Participants will leave with a clear roadmap for improving compliance, reducing deficiencies, and fostering a culture of continuous survey readiness.

Join us for this comprehensive, practical program designed specifically for Assisted Living professionals who want to strengthen compliance, reduce survey risk, and confidently navigate Department of Health (DOH) inspections. This session provides proven strategies, real-world examples, and actionable tools to help your team prepare for surveys, address common deficiencies, and create sustainable systems that support ongoing compliance.

Key Learning Topics

Building Survey Readiness

  • Preparing and training staff
  • Managing documentation and departmental responsibilities
  • Self-auditing and quality assurance processes
  • Handling surveyor inaccuracies and the Inspection Review Process (IRP)

The Big Heavies: Food Service & Medication Management

  • Strategies for highly cited operational areas
  • Common violations and where breakdowns occur
  • Developing a collaborative approach to compliance

Auditing the Nebulous: Case Management

  • Measuring compliance in less tangible areas
  • Key DOH requirements and common missteps
  • Tracking resident issues (“Air Traffic Control”)

Additional High-Risk Survey Areas

  • Personnel
  • Activities and Resident Council
  • Environmental Services and Housekeeping
  • Resident Funds and Valuables
  • Common violations and mitigation strategies 

This training and corresponding CEUs are a free benefit to ESAAL Members.   

Due to limited seating at each venue, registration is strictly limited to 1 person per community. This also applies to members in the corporate office; only 1 per company. You may email Cara Groff [email protected] to be placed on a waiting list. If you find you won't be able to attend, please let ESAAL know as soon as possible, so we can open your spot to someone on the wait list.

Advance registration is required; walk-ins are not accepted.

Dates are listed below by ESAAL region.

Time: 9:00am-4:30pm

Continental breakfast & lunch will be provided. 

This training is in-person only.

Survey Readiness Training Dates & Regions

  • 9/9 – Syracuse (CNY)
    • The Hearth at Greenpoint, 150 Old Liverpool Road, Liverpool, NY 13088
  • 9/15 - Albany North (CDRO)
    • Peregrine Guilderland, 300 Mill Rose Court, Slingerlands, NY 12159
  • 9/22 – Long Island (MARO)
    • Plattduetsche, 1150 Hempstead Turnpike, Franklin Square, NY 11010
  • 9/23 – NYC (MARO)
    • DoubleTree by Hilton, 104-04 Ditmars Blvd., East Elmhurst, NY, 11369
  • 9/24 – Mid-Hudson/Westchester (MARO)
    • The Chelsea at Greenburgh, 715 Dobbs Ferry Rd, White Plains, NY 10607
  • 9/29 – Buffalo (WRO)
    • Buffalo Marriott Niagara, 1340 Millersport Highway, Amherst, New York, USA, 14221
  • 9/30 – Rochester (WRO)
    • St. Ann’s Community at Cherry Ridge, 900 Cherry Ridge Blvd., Webster, NY 14580

Meet the trainers:

Kathy A. Sindoni, RN, BSN, CLNC has been a registered nurse for 20+ years and has been professionally engaged in the assisted living network since 2001. She is the owner and chief consultant of Substantial Compliance Consulting Group, which provides professional assisted living service consultation and serves residences in various regions throughout New York State. As a consultant, Kathy provides assistance with regulatory compliance, DOH surveillance, quality assurance, team building, and many other such services. She is also a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant providing assistance to operators and/or attorneys on the medical or operational aspects of their cases. Kathy previously served as the Administrator and Case Manager of Bridges Cornell Heights, in Ithaca, New York from 2005-2013. Bridges became the first licensed EALR in NYS in April 2008. Additionally, Kathy serves on ESAAL’s Assisted Living Services Committee which acts as an advisory panel to the organization's Board of Directors. She has also served on the Department of Health EALR workgroup.

 

Jayne Perry, RN has been a registered nurse for 30+ years and has served in a professional leadership and management role for several years.  Jayne previously served as the Administrator in a 120-bed residence licensed as an Adult Home/Assisted Living Facility with an Assisted Living Program (ALP) and Enhanced Assisted Living Residence (EALR) program.  Jayne was also responsible for oversight of the Licensed Home Care Service Agency (LHCSA) that served the ALP population. While in this role, Jayne worked closely with RFR Consulting Group and Substantial Compliance Consulting Group to provide staff education and guidance regarding the NYSDOH rules and regulations for the Adult Home/Assisted Living Facility.   This included the creation of policies, forms, and systems specific to the various resident populations within the residence. Additionally, Jayne has experience in completing UAS-NY assessments and is NYS certified to perform PRI/Screen Assessments in the community and for Assisted Living residents.  

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