Adverse Events in the Home Health Environment An HCCS Regulatory Course Even though the home environment was created for living and not for healthcare provision, providing care at home has its benefits. Patients receive care in the comfort of their home, the risk of infection transmission is minimized, and the cost is much less than hospitalization. However, providing care at home presents special challenges to the healthcare provider when it comes to keeping patients safe. Care by a skilled professional is most often provided on an intermittent basis, requiring greater anticipation of potential problems and needs related to: The lack of structure in the home (cluttering, overcrowding, level of cleanliness, etc.) Reliance on family and paid caregivers to follow through on the plan of care between visits The community surrounding the patient (lack of resources, support systems, etc.) These characteristics make home care more prone to adverse events than if the patient were in a controlled (hospital) setting. This course will help you understand what adverse events are and why they should be reported, and will review strategies for keeping patients safe. Distinguish between adverse events and sentinel events in a home healthcare setting Identify how to respond to adverse events in a home healthcare setting Recognize the impact of sentinel events in home healthcare settings List common causes of adverse events and related preventive strategies that help ensure patient safety Avoiding Overexertion When Lifting and Transferring Patients An HCCS Regulatory Course Home healthcare and hospice workers are at increased risk for injury. After completing this course, the participant should be able to: Approximately 20.5 per 10,000 workers experience an injury from lifting each year. In a single shift, a nurse is likely to lift a total of List the risks of manual patient handling thousands of pounds. This puts nursing personnel at unusually high Recognize the role of lifting equipment and transfer devices in risk for back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). A reducing these risks musculoskeletal disorder is an injury of the muscles, tendons, Identify the role of patient assessment in ensuring safe patient lifts ligaments, bones, cartilage, joints, nerves, or blood vessels in the and transfers extremities or back that is caused or aggravated by work tasks such as Identify appropriate types of equipment and devices that may be lifting, pushing, and pulling. This activity will discuss the risks of used for specific types of lifts and transfers manual patient handling, how to reduce these risks, the importance Describe the steps involved in various lifts and transfers of patient assessment before a lift or transfer, and specific devices and techniques for patient lifts and transfers. Page 1 of 19
Bag Technique in Home Health and Hospice An HCCS Regulatory Course Healthcare workers and patients may be exposed to pathogens present on the supply and equipment bags that healthcare workers carry. These bags come into contact with the healthcare worker s vehicle and the patient home environment (including nursing homes), where they are exposed to pathogenic organisms that can be carried from one person to another. This course will help you protect: The individuals you care for Yourself Your coworkers Your family You will learn about: The risks for infection transmission How to protect against exposure to pathogens Proper management of your supply and equipment bag State at least three risks for infection transmission when using a supply bag in home care and hospice Identify best practices for minimizing the risk of infection transfer when using or transporting supplies and equipment to and from a patient s home Identify key strategies for infection control when using a supply or equipment bag Caring for Patients at the End of Life An HCCS Regulatory Course Dying patients require support for physical, psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual needs as they prepare for death. They often fear that Describe end of life care they will die suffering and in pain, alone and abandoned by their Differentiate palliative care and hospice care caregivers. Apply discussed methods of providing quality care to a patient at the end of life This course will help you learn important elements of excellent end of life Discuss common ethical and legal issues related to end of life care care. Developing competence and striving for excellence in end of life care will help you: Help patients have a good death Calm the fears of dying patients Support the patient s family Page 2 of 19
Caring for the Patient with Tuberculosis An HCCS Regulatory Course TB was once the leading cause of death in the United States. With the introduction of streptomycin in the 1940s and other antibiotics later, rates of TB in the U.S. declined significantly until the early 1990s when it resurged due to: The emergence of the HIV epidemic Increased immigration from countries with high prevalence Declines in funding for TB control programs In response, in 1993, the government made a huge reinvestment in TB control, after which TB cases began a twenty year decline. In recent years, incidence has plateaued, indicating the need for new approaches in order to eradicate it. This course has been designed to help you do your part to prevent the spread of TB. Identify populations at risk for TB infection Identify the tests used to screen for and diagnose TB to improve patient outcomes Differentiate TB infection and TB disease Recall strategies for preventing the spread of TB Discuss new strategies for eradicating TB in the U.S. Identify associated interventions for healthcare providers to improve outcomes of patients with tuberculosis infection Controlling the Transmission of Infection in the Home Environment An HCCS Regulatory Course This course will teach you interventions to control and prevent infection in the home environment. For patients receiving care at home, exposure to infection is often less than in a hospital, given that contact with healthcare workers and with other patients who may be harboring infection is limited. However, poor attention to infection control measures while providing care in the home and ineffective patient and caregiver education will increase the risk in an environment that is typically uncontrolled and unstructured. State the importance of infection control in the home setting. Describe essential assessment elements related to the presence of infection at admission and ongoing. Discuss infection control best practices adapted to the home setting. Describe employee health responsibilities. This course will help you apply principles of infection control in the home setting in order to contain the potential spread to others: The patient and caregivers Your co workers Your family The community Page 3 of 19
Domestic Abuse An HCCS Regulatory Course This course will discuss domestic abuse and will provide you with the information you need to: Identify victims Assess victims Refer victims to other resources Report victims of this form of abuse By doing so, you can: Maintain compliance with The Joint Commission standards Improve public health Improve your agency's quality of patient care Specific information for Florida providers to meet state board requirements is also included. Identify key characteristics of domestic abuse and abusive relationships. List the effects of domestic abuse on the victim and children as they relate to the provision of care. Cite the methods for and components of assessing victims of domestic abuse in a clinical setting. Identify the reporting requirements for domestic abuse and how mandatory reporting may affect interactions with patients. Driving Safety for Home Health and Hospice Workers An HCCS Regulatory Course Home health and hospice workers typically drive their own vehicles from assignment to assignment. These individuals are frequently on the road in all weather conditions, often have tight schedules, and drive in unfamiliar areas. This puts them at higher risk for motor vehicle related hazards. This course will provide an overview of: Personal safety, including seatbelts, locks, and airbags Causes of distracted driving Vehicle care and driving emergencies List steps to increase personal safety while driving Recognize situations that lead to distracted driving Identify common driving emergencies Describe preventive vehicle maintenance Effectively Managing Pain An HCCS Regulatory Course Effective pain management is necessary for several reasons: Define pain and its characteristics Ethically: Clinicians have an ethical obligation to relieve pain and List the benefits of treating pain suffering. Identify the necessary components of a pain assessment Clinically: Good pain management can promote clinical healing. This Identify best practices for safely managing pain to improve patient means shorter hospital stays and fewer readmissions. care quality and outcomes From a regulatory standpoint: Regulatory standards require clinicians to assess and treat pain. This course will teach you how to manage pain in your patients. You will learn: The definition of pain The benefits of treating pain effectively Best practices and guidelines for assessing pain Best practices and guidelines for treating pain Page 4 of 19
Elder Abuse and Neglect An HCCS Regulatory Course Elder maltreatment is a serious problem in the United States: Between 1 and 2 million older Americans (over age 65) are abused each year. Not all cases of elder abuse or neglect are reported. The Joint Commission has a standard for victims of abuse or neglect (Standard PC.01.02.09). The rationale for the standard explains the important role of healthcare workers in identifying victims. In this course, you will learn how to identify, assess, refer, and report victims of elder abuse and neglect. This will help you: Improve public health and your agency s quality of patient care Maintain compliance with The Joint Commission Standard PC.01.02.09 Identify forms of elder maltreatment that can occur in a home healthcare setting. List consequences of elder abuse and neglect that can affect residents in a home healthcare setting. Cite methods for identifying victims of abuse and neglect in a home healthcare setting. List steps in the assessment of a victim that will assist in providing the proper treatment. Cite the impact of state law(s) on the care of abused and neglected elders in a home healthcare setting. Hazards to Home Healthcare and Hospice Workers: Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls An HCCS Regulatory Course Falls are the third leading cause of disabling work injury for all workers in the United States. Slips and trips without falling can cause additional work injuries. These injuries include strains and sprains that happen when a person tries to regain balance after a slip or a trip. List risk factors for slips, and how to guard against these risks List risk factors for trips, and how to guard against these risks List situations in which a fall from a height (fall to below) could occur, and list methods for preventing falls in these situations List techniques for falling safely Healthcare workers have the highest rate of nonfatal slips, trips, and falls of any industry. High rates may be the result of providing assistance with activities of daily living (bathing, showering, toileting) during which healthcare workers may be exposed to wet, slippery floors or to clients with gait and balance problems. Learning how to prevent slips, trips, and falls will help you to avoid injury. Page 5 of 19
Healthcare Associated Infection: From Healthcare Facility to Home There are well over 12,400 home health agencies and 4,000 hospices An HCCS Regulatory Course (2014 figures) in the United States today. The updated Conditions of Participation (CoPS) now require home health and hospice agencies to have an infection control program, recognizing the vulnerability of home health patients and infection s far reaching hazard potential. Simply stated, an infection control program monitors and investigates infections in order to prevent and control them. This course will help you understand the principles of infection control by addressing: Causes Risk factors It will also emphasize your role in your agency s infection control program. Identify the causes and modes of transmission of HAI among home health and hospice patients. List factors associated with an increased risk for HAI among home health and hospice patients. Recognize the value of an infection control program in the provision of quality care. Helping Your Patients Prepare for the Future with Advance Directives Patients have the right to make decisions about their care. They have After completing this course, the participant should be able to: An HCCS Regulatory Course this right under the U.S. Constitution. They keep this right even when they are no longer able to communicate their decisions. An advance List key features of advance directives that help to ensure a patient's directive is a legal document that helps protect this right. This course care decisions are known will help nurses protect patient rights related to advance directives List two types of advance directives that help to ensure a patient's and remain compliant with The Joint Commission standards on care decisions are known advance directives. Participants will learn about the types of advance Distinguish between advance directives and advance orders that can directives, when and how advance directives take effect, and their be used to ensure a patient's care decisions are known role in making sure that advance directives work. Identify the nurse s role in encouraging the use of advance directives to improve patient care Page 6 of 19
HIV Infection An HCCS Regulatory Course HIV is one of the most important health threats of our time. It has killed millions of people in the United States and worldwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that over 1.1 million people were living with HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the United States at the close of 2015, and that one in seven (about 15%) did not know they were infected. Therefore, all healthcare professionals need a basic understanding of the virus and the disease it causes: AIDS. This course will teach you the basics about HIV and AIDS. The lessons will cover: The relationship between HIV and AIDS How HIV is spread How HIV infection is diagnosed How HIV infection can be prevented and treated After completing this series of lessons, participants should be able to: Explain the difference between HIV infection and AIDS Discuss the transmission routes of HIV Identify tests used to diagnose and monitor the progress of HIV infection Cite strategies for preventing the spread of HIV and the treatment of infected individuals and exposed healthcare workers Home Health and Hospice Agency Corporate Compliance Programs An HCCS Regulatory Course The purpose of a corporate compliance program is to reduce the risk of misconduct in your agency. This course will teach you how to do your part to: Support the compliance program Reduce the risk of misconduct You will learn about: The consequences of misconduct The laws and regulations that home health and hospice healthcare agencies must follow How a compliance program works List key laws and regulations for the healthcare industry Recognize the features of each law and the penalties for violating each Recognize the benefits of a compliance program List the parts of an effective compliance program Recognize the role of each part of a compliance program Page 7 of 19
Latex Allergy in Healthcare An HCCS Regulatory Course Latex allergy can make life very difficult for some people, potentially limiting their food choices, activities, and even their careers. In some cases, latex allergy can be life threatening. Certain groups of people are more likely than others to have a latex allergy. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 8% to 12% of healthcare workers develop latex allergies compared to 1% to 6% of the U.S. population in general. Anaphylaxis, a severe reaction, can be fatal. This course will teach you what you need to know to: Identify patients who are likely to be latex sensitive. Protect latex sensitive patients and staff in the home healthcare setting. You will learn about: What latex allergy is and what causes it Risk factors for latex allergy Different types of latex reactions What to do if you, a coworker, or a patient is allergic to latex List the source of latex and the cause of latex allergies Discuss populations at increased risk for latex sensitivity Distinguish three different types of latex reaction Explain strategies for managing latex sensitivity, thereby improving healthcare worker and patient safety Page 8 of 19
Maintaining and Communicating Accurate Patient Medication Information An HCCS Regulatory Course Each year, approximately 1.5 million patients are harmed by preventable medication errors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) are responsible for 700,000 visits to emergency departments in the United States every year. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) stresses that overall statistics and comparisons among different types of healthcare providers (such as acute care, home care, and outpatient clinics) are not useful because the different reporting systems are all voluntary. Nonetheless, regulatory and research agencies agree that ADEs are among the most common types of medical errors, and are probably even more common in outpatient settings than in hospitals. Regardless of the numbers, medication errors are alarming because they are largely, as stated above, preventable. This course will help you: Improve drug safety in your organization Comply with The Joint Commission requirements related to drug safety You will learn: Common causes of drug errors Methods for avoiding errors, including The Joint Commission requirements List The Joint Commission requirements related to drug safety in order to provide optimum patient care. Identify methods for improving drug safety that will promote positive outcomes. Explain how to reconcile medications across a patient s continuum of care. Maintaining and Communicating Accurate Patient Medication Information II An HCCS Regulatory Course In this course, we will examine drug errors and hazards. This course will help you: Keep your patients safe from drug errors Keep yourself safe when working with hazardous drugs You will learn about: Adverse drug events and drug interactions High alert medications Hazardous drugs and other substances, including medical gases Explain the features of adverse drug events (ADEs) that can assist in their recognition to promote positive patient outcomes. Discuss ways to reduce the risk of drug interactions in patients to increase patient safety. List ways to increase the safe use of high risk drugs in patients to increase patient safety. List methods for limiting your exposure to hazardous drugs that will help ensure healthcare worker safety. Identify methods to increase the safe use of medical gases in patients to increase patient safety. Page 9 of 19
Management of Common Symptoms in Terminally Ill Patients An HCCS Regulatory Course The management of pain and other distressing symptoms is a key component of both palliative and hospice care. It is also a key requirement of both the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and The Joint Commission. However, many terminally ill patients do not receive high quality pain and/or symptom management. In order to provide the highest quality care, hospice and home health nurses must have an understanding of palliative care practices and the needs of terminally ill patients. This course will help you to manage symptoms and improve quality of life for your terminally ill patients. Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to: Identify the most common symptoms experienced by terminally ill patients. Relate symptom management to improved quality of life, through palliative/hospice care. Explain the importance of patient assessment as it relates to positive experiences through palliative/hospice care. Identify appropriate nursing interventions for the six most common symptoms experienced by terminally ill patients, in order to optimize patient care. Medication Reconciliation: Preventing Medication Errors in Post Acute Care An HCCS Regulatory Course Medication errors are some of the most common patient safety issues negatively impacting patient outcomes. Experts agree that reconciling medication lists during transitions in care can minimize this serious issue and significantly reduce morbidity and mortality while empowering patients and caregivers. This course will focus on the necessary components of an effective medication reconciliation process and discuss the need to empower the patient and caregivers. This course will help you focus on the components of good medication management in your practice and comply with regulatory and accreditation standards. At the end of this course, you should be able to: Explain the importance of medication reconciliation as it relates to patient safety and successful outcomes Define and describe the steps in the process of medication reconciliation Pay attention to five high profile drug groups during medication reconciliation Recognize the significance of medication reconciliation during transitions of care Discuss methods of empowering patients in an effort to prevent medication errors Page 10 of 19
Meeting the Expectations of Home Health and Hospice Patients An HCCS Regulatory Course Patients today have high standards and many healthcare options. To attract and retain patients, providers and facilities must stand out from the competition. Providing excellent customer service is one way to stand out from the crowd. This course will help you improve your customer service skills. You will learn: The benefits of giving excellent customer service Methods for delighting your customers Methods for handling customer complaints Define customer service Distinguish poor, good, and excellent customer service Recognize methods for delighting customers Identify methods for handling customer complaints OASIS C1 /ICD 10 Best Practices: Ensuring Patient Needs Are Met OASIS C1/ICD 10 is a standardized tool used by home health providers and agencies to collect and report uniform information about patients receiving Medicare/Medicaid services. Data collected during OASIS C1/ICD 10 assessment is used by: Home health agencies for quality and performance improvement The federal government and individual home health patients to determine the quality of an agency s services The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to determine the amount a home health agency is reimbursed for services provided to Medicare/Medicaid patients. Specify requirements for completion of specific process measure items within the OASIS C1/ICD 10 to identify a patient s true acuity level and home care needs. Identify the purpose of the Plan of Care Synopsis and the Intervention Synopsis and what is required for each to identify a patient s true acuity level and home care needs. This course will provide you with best practice strategies to accurately complete the OASIS C1/ICD 10 assessment and ensure patient care needs are met. Page 11 of 19
Occupational Hazards and General Safety An HCCS Regulatory Course The home health and hospice environment has many hazards. The types and prevalence of hazards in home and hospice care may differ from those in ambulatory or acute care. If safeguards are not put in place, these hazards can lead to: Injury Illness Time lost from work Lawsuits Poor accreditation reviews On the other hand, staff commitment to safety policies and procedures can help: Minimize hazards Maximize safety This course will teach you: How to identify and define different types of hazards How to identify staff at risk for exposure to each hazard How to safeguard against different types of hazards Define different types of hazards that a health provider needs to be aware of in a home health and hospice setting List examples of each type of hazard that a health provider needs to be aware of in a home health and hospice setting Identify factors that contribute to certain home health/hospice hazards that affect patient safety Describe methods of guarding against the different hazards in the home health/hospice setting that promote positive patient outcomes Overexertion Injuries in the Back An HCCS Regulatory Course Healthcare is a high risk industry for back pain and injury. A provider who works with patients in the home setting does many of the same tasks as a worker in a hospital, but his or her work environment is vastly different. Patient care tasks in the home setting are often made more difficult by: Patient incapacity Small or cluttered rooms Poor lighting Lack of assistive equipment/devices As a result, home healthcare workers have higher rates of injuries and illness than healthcare workers in other settings. Healthcare workers in general have higher rates of back pain and injury than workers in any other industry. Describe the occurrence of back pain and injury among workers in the United States List risk factors for back injury Describe basic spinal anatomy and physiology Discuss safe operation of the spine during sleeping, sitting, standing, and lifting Differentiate between lifting an object and moving a patient Describe safe practices for handling patients Discuss the importance of proper posture and regular exercise for back health It is possible, however, for a home healthcare worker to reduce his or her likelihood of injury. This course will teach you: How back injury occurs The basic structure and function of the spine How to properly use the back and spine during sleeping, sitting, standing, and lifting How to reduce your risk of back injury Page 12 of 19
Overview of OASIS C OASIS C is a standardized tool used by providers and agencies to collect and report uniform information about patients receiving Medicare/Medicaid services. Data collected during OASIS C assessment are used by: Home health agencies for quality and performance improvement The federal government and individual home health patients to determine the quality of an agency s services The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to determine the amount a home health agency is reimbursed for services provided to Medicare/Medicaid patients This course will provide you with information about the home health nurse s role in healthcare quality measurement. Identify the basic features of the OASIS C assessment to improve the quality of care received by home health patients. Differentiate the quality measures captured in OASIS C from those captured in previous OASIS versions. List each OASIS time point and associated documentation criteria to improve the quality of care received by home health patients. Identify basic OASIS C conventions to improve the quality of data collected on home health patients. Overview of OASIS C2 An HCCS Regulatory Course The purpose of the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) is to have a standardized assessment tool used for all Medicare patients receiving home healthcare. This course will teach you how accurate completion of OASIS will: Provide a comprehensive care synopsis Determine reimbursement Measure quality and patient outcomes You will learn: How to accurately complete the current version, OASIS C2, via a combination of observation and interview questions How evidence based best practices are measured What changes were added to comply with the IMPACT Act of 2014 Explain the clinician s responsibilities when completing the OASIS C2 document Identify the One Clinician Rule for 2018 List the reportable quality measures Describe how quality measures affect patient outcomes Explain how the IMPACT Act of 2014 supports the CMS Quality Strategy Page 13 of 19
Preventing Musculoskeletal Disorders: Ergonomic Considerations An Healthcare is a high risk industry for injury. This is especially true for HCCS Regulatory Course home healthcare and hospice workers. Each year, more than 27,400 home healthcare and hospice workers experience an injury. Many of these injuries are preventable. This course will teach you how to avoid work related repetitive stress injury to your: Wrists Arms Back Other at risk areas of your body You will learn: Risk factors for injury How good ergonomics can protect against injury Define "ergonomics" Describe how ergonomics protects against work related injury Discuss common types of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), including causes, symptoms, and risk factors Describe strategies for preventing MSDs List healthy habits for preventing work related injury Preventing Pressure Injuries in the Home Health Setting An HCCS Regulatory Course This course will cover: Basic facts about pressure injuries, including the 2016 staging system How to prevent pressure injuries How to document pressure injury prevention, monitoring, and treatment This information will help you to improve patient health, comply with regulatory standards, and protect yourself from legal liability. List factors that increase a patient s risk for the development of pressure injuries in the home healthcare setting Distinguish among pressure injuries at different stages to assess and guide treatment choices Explain how to use pressure injury risk assessment tools to assist in improving patient outcomes Identify pressure injury prevention and treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes List items that must be documented as evidence of appropriate pressure injury assessment and care to demonstrate compliance with current regulatory criteria and practice guidelines Page 14 of 19
Protecting Homebound Patients from Fire Hazards An HCCS Homebound patients are often too sick to protect themselves from Regulatory Course harm. Many are on oxygen, which increases the risk of fire. Between 2007 and 2011, only 13% of the population was 65 or older, but according to the National Fire Protection Agency, 30% of home fire fatalities were at least 65 years old. In this age group, fatalities increased from 19% in 1980 to 31% in 2011. In order to empower their patients to prevent fires, home healthcare and hospice workers must first be able to identify fire risks. They must also know what to do if a fire does occur. This course will teach you: How to identify fire risks in the home setting What to teach patients and caregivers about fire safety How to engage patients and caregivers to lessen fire risk Explain the importance of assessing and reassessing for home fire risk Identify fire risk factors in the home healthcare/hospice setting Describe necessary patient and caregiver education related to fire safety Implement strategies to engage patients and caregivers in fire prevention Review documentation requirements related to fire safety Protecting the Privacy and Security of Patient Health Information An HCCS Regulatory Course As a worker in the healthcare industry, you are affected by the Administrative Simplification Requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). You are required by law to follow these rules. In 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) made changes to HIPAA. Individuals who obtain protected information without authorization can face criminal penalty. This includes employees at a home health or hospice agency. This course will help you comply with HIPAA. You will learn about: Which organizations are covered by HIPAA The penalties for violating HIPAA The Administrative Simplification Requirements of HIPAA, and how to comply with each List eight electronic health transactions (an action or set of actions between two or more persons related to doing business) covered by HIPAA Identify safeguards required by HIPAA to ensure the privacy and security of health information Describe the unique employer identifier used under HIPAA Distinguish between disclosures (the act of revealing or giving out information) and uses of health information that are and are not allowed under the HIPAA Privacy Rule Discuss the changes to HIPAA as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Page 15 of 19
Protecting the Rights of Home Health and Hospice Patients An HCCS After completing this course, the participant should be able to: Regulatory Course Patients have the right to care, treatment, and services that protect their dignity and respect their values. These values often affect the patient s treatment needs and preferences. By understanding and respecting patients and their values, providers can help meet the patient s needs for treatment and services as well as protect the patient s rights. This course will address the nurse s role in addressing these issues. List the six general areas of patient rights that ensure quality healthcare for home healthcare and hospice patients. Identify patient care information that each patient should know and be aware of to receive optimal home healthcare and hospice care. Discuss the ways in which home healthcare and hospice personnel protect the rights of patients to ensure quality care. Protecting Yourself and Your Patient with PPE An HCCS Regulatory Course The home health and hospice environment has many hazards. Of particular concern are biological hazards, including bloodborne pathogens. If safeguards are not put in place, exposure to biological hazards can lead to: Illness Injury On the other hand, staff commitment to safety policies and procedures can help: Minimize hazards Maximize safety In this course, you will learn about: The need for PPE in the home health and hospice setting How to choose the right PPE for the job How to use PPE correctly and safely Identify when and how PPE should be used in the home health and hospice setting to protect worker safety Cite elements of Standard Precautions for PPE to protect worker safety List best practices for the use of gloves to protect worker safety List best practices for the use of masks, protective eyewear, and gowns to protect worker safety Page 16 of 19
Provider Communication and Patient Identification in the Home Health and Hospice Setting An HCCS Regulatory Course Adverse events in home healthcare and hospice have begun to emerge. Two related aspects of medical care can be the cause of an adverse event in this setting: Identification of patients Communication among healthcare providers Ineffective communication is a major cause of adverse events in all healthcare settings, including the home healthcare and hospice setting. Errors in patient identification are less common in this environment than in other settings. If errors do occur, however, they can have terrible results. This course will provide you with the information you need to provide safe, quality care to your home healthcare and hospice patients. Specifically, you will learn about best practices for effective communication and accurate patient identification. List and explain the components of the Situation Background Assessment Recommendation (SBAR) system for communication and its importance in the home healthcare and hospice setting Use methods for preventing errors when communicating verbally in order to protect patient safety in the home healthcare and hospice setting Identify risky terms that should not be used in clinical documentation List key features of the two identifier system for identifying patients in order to protect patient safety in the home healthcare and hospice setting Reducing the Risk of Patient Falls in the Home Health/Hospice Setting The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 424,000 An HCCS Regulatory Course fatal falls occur globally each year. Another 37.3 million falls are severe enough to require medical attention. Approximately 50% of patients receiving home healthcare services are over the age of 65. Twenty to thirty percent of these patients will suffer moderate to severe injuries from falls. For these older adults, falls represent the majority of home accidents. Fall injuries are the leading cause of death and disability. Each year, more than one third of adults over age 65 and half of those over 80 years old will fall. Crucially, many of these falls are preventable. This course has been designed to help you protect patients from falls. You will learn about: How balance normally keeps us from falling Risk factors for falls Strategies for preventing falls List the potential physical and emotional consequences to the patient when falls occur in the home healthcare and hospice setting. Identify the body systems and muscle strategies involved in the maintenance of balance and the role of each in preventing falls. List risk factors for patient falls that can occur in the home healthcare and hospice setting. Identify intervention strategies for preventing patient falls to ensure quality home healthcare and hospice care. Page 17 of 19
Standard Precautions and Bloodborne Pathogens An HCCS Some organisms that cause disease are carried in a person s blood Regulatory Course and other body fluids. The other body fluids are OPIM (other potentially infectious materials). This topic will be explained in more detail later in the course. Assume that bloodborne pathogens are also present and infectious in OPIM; apply the same precautions and procedures to all infectious or potentially infectious materials. Healthcare workers are routinely exposed to the blood and fluids of their patients. They are, therefore, at risk for contracting disease. This course will help you protect: Yourself Your coworkers Your patients Your family You will learn how to: Work safely with blood and body fluids Protect against exposure to bloodborne pathogens Discuss the important bloodborne pathogens and how they are spread, increasing risk to healthcare workers. List important safeguards against bloodborne pathogen exposure that will improve healthcare worker safety. Explain the steps that will increase healthcare worker safety if exposed to a bloodborne pathogen. The Importance of Appropriate Hand Hygiene An HCCS Regulatory Course According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), proper hand hygiene is the single most important way to stop the spread of infection. This course will teach you how to do your part in: Promoting proper hand hygiene Helping to prevent the spread of infection You will learn about: The history of hand hygiene Why hand hygiene is so important How to keep your hands as clean and germfree as possible List important milestones in the history of hand hygiene to understand the need for current guideline recommendations as they relate to patient safety Recognize why hand hygiene in the home health and hospice setting is important to control the spread of infection Identify best practices for hand hygiene to control the spread of infection and improve patient outcomes Page 18 of 19
Using Abbreviations and Symbols Safely An HCCS Regulatory Course Many healthcare providers use abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols when writing orders, taking notes, and documenting care. The delivery of safe patient care can be compromised if these "shortcuts" Identify The Joint Commission recommendations related to At Risk or are confusing or if their meaning can be easily misunderstood by other caregivers. error prone drug terms. Identify At Risk abbreviations and symbols. Select safer terms to use in place of At Risk terms. This course will help you and your agency improve communication and protect patient safety. You will learn about: The danger of using abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols At Risk drug terms to avoid Safer terms to use instead Page 19 of 19