Policy Manual sample

MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. INABILITY TO PROVIDE SERVICE POLICY: To provide for client’s needs in a manner consistent with quality care. PURPOSES 1. To provide quality service (s) to client at home, directly or indirectly with minimal interruption or compromise during events such as natural disasters, epidemic illness among staff, or other unforeseeable events that may limit staff availability or access to clients. 2. To provide education to primary care giver, significant other, and/or family to ensure the ability to care for clients during periods of interruption of service. PROCEDURES 1. The Field Staff Supervisor in anticipation of inability to provide necessary care for therapies at home should be reported immediately to the Director of Nursing, Clinical Manager of the Home Health Care Agency. 2. After determining that client’s needs at home cannot be met, the client or care giver is contacted, informed of the situation, and any changes in services. a. Assigns a member to the Administrative Branch Office staff to fulfill the safety needs for the client. b. Notifies the physician for specific orders (to include transport to the nearest acute care facility). 3. If the client’s condition is determined non-critical and services its determined nonessential by the Director of Nursing, Clinical Manager of Home Health Care he/she: a. Assigns a member of the Administrative Branch Office staff to fulfill the safety need for the client. b. Monitors the client throughout the contracted service time for safety via telephone contact or visit. c. The above action(s) are documented by the Director of Nursing, Clinical Manager for Home Health Care. 4. The Administrator or designee is responsible to assure provisions of service(s) through utilization of other resources or home health agencies. 5. The Director of Nursing, Clinical Manager of Home Health Care is responsible to ensure that reported baseline information about the client given to newly assigned personnel is current and complete. 6. If the client is to be serviced by a family member, significant other or primary care giver, the Director of Nursing, Clinical Manager of Home Health Care is to ensure that those aforementioned are knowledgeable to the therapies, tasks, and duties required for this client. 7. If the client is to have no service due to lack of Home Health Care Agency personnel and family support the following will ensure: a. If the client’s condition is determined critical or service is determined essential by the Director of Nursing, Clinical Manager of Home Health Care he/she: 1.Assigns a member of the Administrative Branch Office staff to fulfill the safety needs for the client. 2.Notifies the physician for specific orders to include transport to the nearest acute care facility. b. In the client’s conditions is determined non-critical and service is determined nonessential by the Director of Nursing, Clinical Manager of Home Health Care he/she: 1.Assigns a member of the Administrative Branch Office staff to fulfill the safety needs for the client. 2.Monitors the client throughout the contracted service time for safety via telephone contract or visit. 8. The Branch Manger will address the inability to provide service at the bi-weekly staff meeting with documented avenues to prevent similar occurrences. Home Health Agency Policies A-23