Policy Manual sample

MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. appropriate care. The staff is also not permitted to provide services when he/she is medically, physically or emotionally unfit to do so. This can include medical conditions that are not controlled and exacerbation may prohibit the staff from providing care, physical conditions such as injuries that prevent the staff from delivering safe and appropriate care, and emotional issues or conditions can impair the staff’s judgment when providing service, for example if the staff has experienced a death in the family the staff can be deeply emotionally affected and this could hinder the ability to provide appropriate care. The staff is responsible for using good professional judgment and being able to recognize his/her own limitations. If the staff is unable to provide care for any of the above reasons, the patient and case manager must be notified and staff should assist with implementing the patient’s back up plan. Discussing religion or politics with the patient and others present in the care setting This is not a good idea in any job but discussion of religion and politics is not only inappropriate, but also prohibited when providing care for the Agency’s Patient. The topics of religion and politics are probably the most argued topics in the world. The staff should avoid sharing with the patient any political or religious beliefs or try to sway the patient’s beliefs. The patient may choose to make his/her beliefs known to the staff. The staff must be respectful of the staffs beliefs, the staff can listen to the patient, but it is not the staff’s role to share his/her own beliefs with the patient. Keeping religious and political views private is necessary in maintaining professional boundaries. If the staff and patient share their different religious and political beliefs with each other, disagreements or arguments can ensue, leaving bad feelings and disrespect for one another. Discussing staffs’ personal issues with the patient and others in the care setting. It is not always an easy task to keep discussions of personal issues out of the equation when providing care to a patient. The patient will ask personal questions in an attempt to get to know the person who is coming into his/her home to provide care. It is expected that the staff recognize how much information is appropriate. The staff should disclose necessary information to the patient, such as contact information, credentials, experience, much as one would provide any employer when applying for a job. As the staff – patient relationship continues, patients often make small talk and ask more personal questions, such as; “are you married”, “do you have children”, “what do you like to do in your spare time?” It is okay to disclose minimal information, such as “yes I am married.” Inappropriate conversation would be, yeah I’m married, but not for long, we argue all of the time.” The staff must always remember that the patient is often dealing with multiple medical diagnoses and their own personal issues and stressors. The staff should not add to patient’s stress and worry by disclosing his/her own personal issues. This takes the focus away from the patient and places it on the staff. This is probably the most common violation of professional boundaries. Exploitation The staff is prohibited from behaving in a manner that takes advantage of or manipulates the patient, patient’s family or authorized representative or Program resulting in personal gain for the staff. Some examples include but are not limited to, identity theft, using patient’s credit/debit/food stamp card for personal use, creating debt for the patient/family, having cell phone/ utilities/ credit in the patient’s name etc. This also refers to the staff telling the patient a “sob story” and gaining sympathy from the patient to the point that the patient or patient’s family may offer assistance. An example of this is the staff who tells the patient that he/she is financially struggling and needs more hours. The patient asks if he/she can help. Together they devise a plan to let the case manager know that the patient’s health is declining so the staff can get more hours or visits. The Agency’s case manager authorizes more hours/visits and the staff begins providing services that are not actually necessary. This scenario manipulates the patient, The Agency’s Program and is also Medicare, Medicaid, Insurance Fraud which can lead to criminal charges. The patient should never be treated as an opportunity for the staff to gain anything beyond reimbursement for the services provided. The patient / patient’s family are typically grateful for the services provided under the Home Care Program and often feel compelled to show their gratitude, the staff should never take advantage of, manipulate or exploit the patient/family in any way. Money and Gifts The Licensed staff may never accept, obtain or attempt to obtain money or anything of value, including gifts or tips from the patient or household /family members of the patient. This includes borrowing money, requesting and/or accepting gas money, using the patient’s credit/debit/food stamp card (even if the money is paid back). The staff is not permitted to accept tips or gifts, he/she receives reimbursement for services rendered and can not accept anything beyond that. This can be especially difficult at Christmas or on birthdays. It is important that the staff set the boundaries early into the patient-staff relationship and make sure that this has been addressed so that the patient doesn’t give gifts and the staff doesn’t feel obligated to accept a gift. Many patients are on a fixed income and can not afford to lend or give money to Home Health Agency. - - Personnel/Operations Policies B-167