The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) employs Licensure and Certification Surveyors in positions across the state with the Bureau of Health Provider Standards (HPS). HPS is a regulatory branch of ADPH charged with inspecting and certifying healthcare providers. HPS is contracted with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to carry out this work. The Bureau's work is vital to improving the quality of care and the quality of life for those receiving care and services of providers and suppliers.
According to the Bureau's director, Denise Milledge, Licensure and Certification Surveyors are responsible for making on-site visits to various types of healthcare facilities to determine their compliance with state rules and federal regulations. Surveyors check for issues that affect the care and safety of residents, which includes tasks such as:
"The inherent nature of the survey process in determining regulatory compliance brings challenges. Helpful traits for surveyors include being a self-starter, as well as being curious, adept at critical thinking, conscientious, trustworthy, flexible, confident, and patient," Milledge said.
Candidates for the Licensure and Certification Surveyor positions come from a wide variety of disciplines, including registered nurses, social workers, dietitians, health administrators, medical technologists, pharmacists, therapists and investigators.
The Health Provider Standards Bureau is broken up into a series of units which are described below.
The Acute and Continuing Care Unit completes on-site surveys for initial licensure and certification, recertification, follow-up, and complaint surveys for the following types of facilities:
The Long Term Care Unit is responsible for licensure and certification surveys and enforcement recommendations in all long term care facilities, and skilled nursing and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
The Assisted Living Facilities Unit ensures all such facilities, including specialty care assisted living facilities, follow the State Board of Health rules. This unit is also responsible for investigating allegations of the unlawful operation of unlicensed healthcare facilities in Alabama.
Laboratories performing clinical lab tests for the purpose of diagnosis, treatment, or prevention are required to be Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) certified. The CLIA Unit assesses how clinical labs monitor their systems to ensure their quality of testing. This unit is responsible for labs that have already achieved CLIA certification, as well as those labs seeking licenses as independent clinical and independent physiological laboratories.
The Provider Services Unit processes and approves applications for facility licensure and certification, changes of ownership, and other changes in provider information. This unit also handles annual licensure renewal for healthcare providers.
In addition, this unit maintains records of healthcare providers and supplier information for the Medicare, Medicaid, and State licensure programs. The unit publishes, maintains, and distributes facility licensure rules and a directory of healthcare facilities.
According to Milledge, a surveyor becomes eligible for promotion as a Licensure and Certification Coordinator after two years of experience. Additional promotional opportunities in the series include Licensure and Certification Supervisor as well as manager positions. Surveyors often support those in training coordinator and quality assurance roles as mentors, sharing best practices with their coworkers and contributing to special projects.
"This work allows us to advocate for the most vulnerable populations in Alabama by ensuring they are well taken care of and are having their needs met by providers to whom they are entrusted," said HPS Medical Director Dr. Amber N. Clark-Brown. "While it is definitely hard work, it is meaningful and fulfilling."
Visit Careers to learn more about other open positions at ADPH. For additional information on current employment opportunities with ADPH, visit our Office of Human Resources.