WHAT HAPPENS DURING OUR SITE VISIT?

COA's site visit experience is both facilitative and contextual in nature. Therefore, the Peer Review Team will provide the agency with every opportunity to demonstrate that its policies and/or procedures are implemented within the agency. It is important for the agency to demonstrate to the Peer Review Team how it implements the requirements of the standards within its unique culture and service environment. In order to determine implementation, several layers of questions may be asked of the agency.

Sunday Case Record Review
The site visit generally begins on a Sunday with the case record review. Although this is not mandatory, it is preferable, as it allows more time during regular business hours for meetings with staff and stakeholders. It also allows the team to fully participate in each aspect of the site visit.

Entrance Meeting
The Entrance Meeting is the formal "kickoff" of the site visit. This is when the Team is introduced to your agency's chief administrator, members of the executive staff, and other relevant staff who will be involved in the site visit. During this meeting, the Team Leader will review what can be expected over the next few days.

Interviews and Observations
The Peer Review Team will tour your agency's facilities to observe the safety, care and maintenance of the facility. During these tours, the Peer Review Team will also observe staff/client interactions. Interviews are often conducted with clients and/or personnel at these facilities.

The intent of interviews is to determine satisfaction with services, to determine if written policies and procedures are implemented throughout the agency, and to help the team get a feel for the overall culture of the agency.

Exit Meeting
The Exit Meeting is intended to provide your agency with some initial feedback and to assure all key staff and board members understand what to expect next. This also allows you to bring closure to this part of the process.