Michigan Nursing Home Administrator (NHA) Practice Exam

What documentation must be available to the department upon request?

1. All hospital records

2. Patient rights documentation

3. Written complaints and investigation reports

4. Personal staff records

The correct answer is: Written complaints and investigation reports

The requirement for documentation available to the department upon request is primarily focused on written complaints and investigation reports. This documentation serves several important functions within a nursing home setting. First, it provides transparency in how the facility handles grievances and safety concerns. The department needs access to this information to ensure that the nursing home is effectively addressing any issues brought to light by residents or their families. This can include any allegations of mistreatment, neglect, or other violations of care standards. Second, investigation reports are crucial for regulatory compliance. They help the department assess whether the facility is following the necessary protocols to investigate complaints thoroughly and implement corrective actions if needed. This documentation is also important for monitoring trends in complaints that may indicate systemic issues within the facility. In contrast, while patient rights documentation, personal staff records, and all hospital records are important for various operational and regulatory reasons, they do not have the same direct relevance to the oversight of resident complaints and the facility's responsiveness to them. Patient rights documentation may be required but does not typically need to be produced upon demand in the same way as complaint investigations do. Personal staff records contain sensitive information that is typically protected under privacy laws, and hospital records may not always be within the purview of the nursing home unless specifically relevant