Policy Manual sample

MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. 196 MEDICATION TRANSFER COMMUNICATION POLICY: A complete, current and accurate list of the patient’s medications, including prescribed and over-the-counter medications and herbal remedies, is communicated in writing to the next provider of service, when the organization refers or transfers a patient to another setting, service, practitioner or level of care within or outside the organization. PROCEDURE: • When patient care is assigned, either permanently or temporarily, i.e., weekends, to another Agency staff member (either Agency employee or contracted personnel), the replacement staff is provided with a copy of an updated and current patient medication list by the prior clinician (SN, PT, OT, ST). This list may be submitted to the Case Manager or Clinical Supervisor to convey the information to the replacement staff. • When a patient is referred/transferred to another setting or level of care outside the Agency, a transfer/discharge form, which includes a list of the patient’s medications, is completed by any and all licensed clinicians involved in the patient’s care and/or services and submitted to the Case Manager or Clinical Supervisor. • The completed transfer/discharge form information is provided to the setting or level of care outside the Agency by the Case Manager or Clinical Supervisor. • Records of all patients referred or transferred to another setting, service, practitioner or level of care within or outside the organization are audited on a monthly basis to ensure that a written list of the patient’s medications was communicated appropriately to the next provider of service. • A quarterly summary report of the medication transfer/referral information audit is submitted to the Board of Directors and the Professional Advisory Committee. • Root cause analysis is conducted on any identified variances, and a plan of correction is developed, implemented and evaluated. The nurse is to remain with the patient for one (1) hour post-transfusion and document vital signs at least one time during that period, or more often dependent on the patient’s clinical status • At completion of transfusion discard tubing using Standard Precautions. • Return used unit to blood bank.