Policy Manual sample

MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. iv. Field staff will be asked to review their patients to assess those patients that can be continue with regular services if sign/symptoms of infection are not noted. v. Case managers will be involved in this emergency planning process. vi. Nursing Department staff will be asked to consider alternate levels of care for patients presenting symptoms. vii. Physical Therapy will be considered for a back up site to care for non-infectious patients. If the Agency capacity is exceeded with the infectious patients. viii. Cohorting of inpatients with similar symptoms or like diagnosis will be initiated as appropriate to allow increased service capacity. ix. Restriction of patient’s home or place of residency visitors is recommended at the discretion of Infection Control Officer (DON, Clinical Manager). c. Departmental Responsibilities: i. Nursing - Implement rapid acquisition of medical supplies. ii. Director of Nursing, Clinical Manager, Human Resources –implement rapid acquisition of needed personal protective and other supplies as required. iii. Administrative and Infection Control team- determine how to continue serving our patients, depending on the agent, needs of the patients. 5. Planning for influx of patients with infections requiring Airborne Precautions 6. Communications a. Current information will be obtained from the CDC web site, the State and County Department of Health web site, and the local Emergency departments. b. The Administrator will address all media inquiries and will coordinate internal communications. c. External communications will be coordinated with the county Emergency Management Agency. d. Internal communications will occur via e-mail, memos, meetings, and educational training sessions, as appropriate. e. CDC educational materials will be used when available. f. Local health department educational resources will be used to supplement the CDC materials as appropriate. 7. Other issues a. Persons exposed prior to isolation precautions will be treated as recommended by CDC Guidelines, as ordered by their physicians. b. Prophylaxis for persons exposed to actual substances will be initiated as recommended by CDC. c. All Agency’s departments will utilize their infection control policies and procedures. d. We will consider implementing the emergency credentialing for medical staff and allied health professionals, as needed. f. Implement staffing plans to cover census, including mandatory overtime, extra visits. 8. Coordination of Care will be implemented with locals Hospital, Clinics, Rehab centers, and another Home Health agencies as needed. Home Health Agency Nursing Care & Procedures K-196