Policy Manual sample

MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. 203 MEDICATION MONITORING PURPOSE: • To ensure that the medication therapy ordered is appropriate to meet the patient’s clinical needs, thereby promoting achievement of positive patient outcomes. • To minimize the occurrence of adverse events relative to medication administration either by MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. staff or by the patient/family/caregiver. POLICY: • The patient’s response to medications is monitored by the skilled nurse/therapist on a regular basis. • The results of the monitoring process are communicated to the ordering physician, licensed independent practitioner and MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. staff involved in the patient’s care, treatment and/or services. PROCEDURE: • The skilled nurse/therapist monitors the patient’s response to medications at least once a week, and more frequently if needed, based on the patient’s clinical needs and/or response to care, treatment and/or services. • The monitoring process includes at least the following elements: • Eliciting from the patient/family/caregiver a determination of the effectiveness of the medication regimen and whether or not any side effects have occurred • Reviewing and evaluating laboratory results, if applicable • Reviewing and evaluating the medication profile • Objectively assessing the patient’s clinical response to medications • The findings, conclusions and recommendations of medication monitoring are communicated to the physician. • The findings, conclusions and recommendations of medication monitoring are documented in the patient’s medical record.