Important Update — Effective September 8, 2026
CMS Risk-Based Surveys Go Nationwide September 8
Starting September 8, 2026, CMS will implement the Risk-Based Survey process nationwide. Facilities that qualify receive a more focused recertification survey — but qualifying requires meeting strict criteria around survey history, quality measures, complaints, and enforcement. A CMSCG mock survey is one of the most effective ways to identify whether your facility is on track to qualify — or to close the gaps before September 8.
Read Our Full Analysis →Nursing Home Mock Surveys
Find what a surveyor would find — before they do.
CMSCG's nursing home mock surveys are built to mirror the full rigor of an actual CMS survey — not a checklist review, not a documentation audit, but a comprehensive on-site evaluation that covers every department, every discipline, and every dimension of what surveyors actually do when they walk through your door.
Schedule a Mock SurveyA Mock Survey Is Only as Good as the Team Conducting It
CMSCG's consultants are in skilled nursing facilities every week of the year — not just for mock surveys, but providing ongoing clinical support, quality assurance, and compliance management across the full post-acute spectrum. That continuous presence in the field means we arrive at your facility already knowing what surveyors are currently focusing on in your region, what citation patterns are emerging nationally, and what the gap between policy and practice looks like in a real building. We don’t simulate a survey. We conduct one.
- Pre-visit data review — your survey history, quality measures, Five-Star trajectory, and complaint patterns inform where we look first
- Full facility observation — we walk your building the way a surveyor does, from the moment we arrive
- Resident and staff interviews — open-ended, conducted by experienced consultants who know what hesitation looks like
- Medical record and documentation review — aligned with what surveyors pull and why
- Findings in SOD format — so your team knows exactly what would have been cited and at what scope and severity
- Prioritized corrective action guidance — not just findings, but a roadmap to fix them
What a CMSCG Mock Survey Covers
A real CMS survey covers every corner of your building. So does ours. CMSCG's interdisciplinary team reviews every department and every discipline — giving you the complete picture, not just the clinical one.
Clinical
Comprehensive review of nursing care, care planning, and clinical documentation against current CMS standards and Critical Element Pathways.
- Nursing care and documentation
- Care plan development and implementation
- Medication management and administration
- Wound care and pressure ulcer prevention
- Infection prevention and control
- Behavioral health programs and documentation
- Restraint use and alternatives
- Resident rights and abuse prevention
Social Services & Quality of Life
Review of social services programs, resident rights practices, grievance processes, and the quality of life environment your facility provides.
- Social services documentation and programs
- Grievance process and response
- Resident and family council requirements
- Admission, transfer, and discharge practices
- Resident rights compliance
- Activities and engagement programs
Food & Nutrition
On-site kitchen inspection and dining room observation — covering food safety, clinical nutrition, meal service practices, and the overall dining experience.
- Kitchen inspection — food safety, sanitation, and storage
- Food temperatures and logs review
- Clinical nutrition review and documentation
- Therapeutic diet compliance
- Dysphagia and texture-modified diet review
- Dining room observation during meal service
Environmental & Life Safety
Full environmental review and life safety inspection — covering physical plant compliance, emergency preparedness, and the safety of the resident environment.
- Physical environment observation
- Life Safety Code compliance
- Emergency preparedness review
- Maintenance and housekeeping programs
- Accident hazard identification
- Records and logs review
MDS & Documentation
Review of MDS assessments, supporting documentation, and the alignment between what is documented and what is actually happening in the building.
- MDS accuracy and supporting documentation
- Care plan alignment with MDS findings
- Physician order and progress note review
- Nursing documentation patterns
- Rehab and ancillary service documentation
Operations & Administration
Review of operational systems, staffing compliance, QAPI program, and administrative practices that support sustained compliance across the facility.
- Staffing levels and documentation
- QAPI program review
- Policy and procedure compliance
- Staff training and competency records
Full Team or Focused — We Work Around Your Needs
Not every engagement requires the full interdisciplinary team. CMSCG offers both comprehensive full-team mock surveys and targeted single-discipline reviews depending on where your facility needs the most focus.
Looking for more than a mock survey?
CMSCG's mock survey is the cornerstone of our survey readiness work — but it’s one part of a broader continuum of services. From remote medical record reviews and Precision Reviews to ongoing quality monitoring and staff education, we offer flexible options that meet your facility wherever it is. View our full Survey Preparedness services →
Trusted by Providers Nationwide
CMSCG has worked with nursing homes across the country to strengthen compliance, resolve serious deficiencies, and achieve better survey outcomes. Here’s what some of them have to say.
“ZERO is my favorite number! Thank you for the extraordinary assistance in helping us achieve a perfect clinical survey!”
“The mock survey was tremendously needed to wake up the staff and get them focused again. We would like to thank you and your team for your professionalism, thoroughness and expertise.”
“We had a mock survey before, but it was nothing like your team’s approach! Thank you for identifying our vulnerabilities throughout the facility and helping us create a roadmap to a successful survey — and sustainable systems.”
Ready to find out what a surveyor would find?
Contact CMSCG to schedule your nursing home mock survey — full team or focused, we’ll build the right engagement for where your facility is right now.
Urgent survey situation? Call us directly: (631) 692-4422