Nursing homes are the most highly regulated industry in Maine, with everything from the distance between beds and windows to what items can be laundered together specified and codified.

So when five state inspectors left Sept. 17 after a three-and-a-half day survey without finding a single deficiency, it was a rare achievement, said Cheryl Dobbelsteyn, executive director of Cove’s Edge, a long-term care and rehabilitation facility.

“They look at the environment, safety, maintenance, cleanliness. They look at everything from furniture to flooring to walls. They look at the layout of the rooms to make sure the space is appropriate. They look at the equipment and then they look at all of the protocols around infection control. They also look at the kitchen,” said Dobbelsteyn.

Most importantly, the inspectors talk to residents and their families about the care at Cove’s Edge.

“The things they are looking for are the quality of life and the safety of the residents,” said Dobbelsteyn. “They want to make sure that the residents are offered choices and that we adhere to their choices — if they get up and go to bed when they want, if they get to eat when they want.”

Judy McGuire, executive vice president of senior living, said deficiency-free survey results are very rare and speak to a team effort from everyone who works at Cove’s Edge.

“This is very affirming for the staff. It is their achievement,” said McGuire. She said she was also very proud of the entire leadership of Senior Living for creating a culture where every staff member is involved in solving problems and providing the highest level of care possible.

The unannounced inspections are something that every nursing home and rehabilitation facility goes through once a year in Maine. While the staff doesn’t know when the inspectors will arrive, they prepare for the inspections all year long, said McGuire.

At the center of the inspections are surveys of medical records and interviews of the staff, including certified nursing assistants who provide most of the hands-on care.

The inspectors quizzed certified nursing assistants on the care of their patients, what areas of concerns they look for and what strategies they use to improve quality.

Among the strategies Cove’s Edge uses to improve quality, are daily morning meetings in which staff in both the long-term care and in the rehabilitation wing of Cove’s get together to discuss care plans for each resident and any concerns staff have about equipment or anything else.

Those daily meetings improve communication between the leadership and the hands-on staff and help everyone feel like they are part of the solution, said Dobbelsteyn.

“This is a very strong team. I think the leadership team has a great way of involving all of the employees,” said Dobbelsteyn.