Policy Manual sample

MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. POLICY ON ADMISSION "Admission" means a decision by the home health agency, during or after an evaluation visit to the patient's home, that there is reasonable expectation that the patient's medical, nursing, and social needs for skilled care can be adequately met by the agency in the patient's place of residence. Admission includes completion of an agreement with the patient or the patient's legal representative to provide home health services as required in s. 400.487(1). All needed information is provided to the client or the client’s representative prior to the start of care or at the time of initiation of care, included but not limited to: Service Agreement with all needed parts, the organization’s Grievance Procedure, Bill of Rights, Care Plans, Emergency Plan, Medication Schedule, Team Communication form, and Client’s Information Handbook. ONE PATIENT SIGNATURE: Admission consent/agreement form is used in all patient orientation booklets, and is used to acknowledge receipt, understanding and approval of the contents of the patient orientation booklet and forms (bill of rights, grievance procedures, medicare payer questionnaire, emergency plan) – all in one booklet and with only one patient signature. The confusion and patient’s efforts of signing multiple forms is eliminated. We have designated personnel (Admissions nurses/therapist, Director of Nursing, Clinical Manager) that determine whether the patient is eligible for admission based on the Agency’s criteria and availability of care/service to meet the patient’s needs. ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES INCLUDE, but are not limited to: Target population(s), Geographic area served (Miami Dade & Monroe County(ies)), Care/service limitations, Method of payment, Patient’s Homebound status, staff availability. “Confined to the home” (Homebound) if the following two criteria are met: First Criteria: One of the Following must be met: 1. Because of illness or injury, the individual needs the aid of supportive devices such as crutches, canes, wheelchairs, and walkers; the use of special transportation; or the assistance of another person to leave their place of residence. 2. Have a condition such that leaving his or her home is medically contraindicated. Second Criteria: Both of the following must be met: 1. There must exist a normal inability to leave home. 2. Leaving home must require a considerable and taxing effort. The patient may be considered homebound (that is, confined to the home) if absences from the home are: Infrequent; For periods of relatively short duration; For the need to receive health care treatment; For religious services; To attend adult daycare programs; or For other unique or infrequent events (for example, funeral, graduation, trip to the barber). Eligibility criteria may vary for different care/service programs. Eligibility criteria is periodically reviewed for appropriateness and continued accessibility to the Agency’s programs. Target populations may be defined generally as anyone needing the care/service or in some cases may be defined by special funding sources. Other population may be defined by ages (e.g., elderly, infants, children, etc.), special care/service needs (e.g., medical care, homemaking, personal care, etc.), or specific diseases/disabilities (e.g., Alzheimer..s, Autism, schizophrenia, arthritis, etc.). Patient Eligibility—Need Skilled Services: For Medicare recipients, the patient must be in need of one of the following services: Skilled nursing care on an intermittent basis (furnished or needed on fewer than 7 days each week Home Health Agency - - Skilled Professional Services D-49