Policy Manual sample

MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. PANIC VALUE POLICY: · Critical results are commonly called “panic values” and will be referred to in this policy as such. · However, both terms may be used interchangeably throughout the organization and are understood to mean the same. · A panic value is defined as a result outside the normal range in such a degree that an immediate health risk to the patient is evident and/or immediate action may be required on behalf of the ordering physician. · It is the policy of the Agency, than when we receive from Clinical Laboratory any value out of range, or any vital sign taken by our field staff out of normal range for the patient, to immediately notify the physician, not more than 2 hrs after we know the critical value, (or other personnel delegated to receive this information) of panic values. · Panic values must be called to the patient caregiver responsible for the patient and/or the patient’s physician, in the instance of laboratory values, as soon as possible after results are obtained. If a specimen must be diluted to obtain a more accurate result, i.e., glucose, a preliminary report must be called. · The time and the person notified must be noted with the result whenever a panic value is called. The nurse will notify the inpatient’s physician of the panic value within 2 hours of receipt of the panic value (as defined by the organization). PROCEDURE: · Panic values will be called immediately to the patient caregiver, primary physician. The individual reporting the value will document time and date, to whom and by whom the call was made on the patient's communication note. All panic values will be reviewed by the nursing department. · Patient's primary physician will be notified in the event of panic values resulted on laboratory specimens. Parameters to report to Patient’s Physician/Agency: BP < 90/50 and > 150/90 Temperature < 96 o F > 99.3 o F Pulse rate < 60 or > 100 Urine: Foul odor, cloudy, blood tinged Severe pain without relief (scale 0-10, >7) No bowel movement for more than 3 days Resp. Rate < 16 or > 22 Blood Sugar level < 70 mg/dl or > 250 mg/dl LABORATORY: PT Less than 11 and greater than 20 INR Less than 2 and greater than 3 Home Health Agency Nursing Care & Procedures K-149