COVID-19 is making inspecting nursing homes difficult, but the Joint Commission has launched a virtual survey process during the pandemic, using Florida as a testing ground, according to an article on the Sun Sentinel website.

The Joint Commission has conducted 240 virtual surveys nationwide, with 41 for Florida providers.

The virtual survey actually has proven to be much more efficient, in part because surveyors previously didn’t receive needed documents until they arrived at the facilities.

The Joint Commission uses doctors, nurses and other trained professionals as surveyors who randomly select patients and review their medical records to ensure compliance with standards. 

After temporarily suspending them, Joint Commission resumed regular surveys and reviews in June — with some changes to protect safety, according to a statement from the organization.

The statement said: "The Joint Commission is committed to working closely with organizations, with safety being the first and foremost priority. As we start to resume surveys and reviews, account executives will begin to contact organizations due for a survey to assess the impact that the coronavirus pandemic had on their operations and their current state."

Read the full Sun Sentinel article.