Policies

Medication Administration and Other Medical Services

According to the terms of the program Community First Choice (CFC), Personal Care Providers do not provide any medical services to clients.  As a paid caregiver, you do not administer medications (medication reminders are acceptable and encouraged), do not fill the medication box, and do not perform any medical procedures.   Such actions constitute violations of the terms of the program and may lead to serious unintended consequences.

However, family members can administer medications and provide medical services to participants at the time when they are NOT paid caregivers of the program (after hours).

Agency nurse visits participants of the program quarterly to provide nursing supervision.
Nurse Monitoring is provided by Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (Montgomery County DHHS).

Visits of Social Workers and State Nurses

Social workers visit participants at home once every three months (quarterly).

Please let us know beforehand about the visits of social workers.  It is important to prepare for this visit by having all the latest information – visits to the hospital, hospitalizations, emergency visits to the doctors, new diagnoses, new drugs and new medical procedures. This will help create a real picture of the state of health of the program participant.

We strongly advise our customers not to engage in direct talks with Social Workers (Support Planners) and State Nurses. It is important to have a family member present at the time of the visit to help with the translation. This will help to avoid misunderstandings.

Reportable Event Policy

Starting in May 2006 Personal Care agencies are expected to inform Social Workers (Support Planners) about any events which may have important consequences for the program participant and submit within 7 days a written Reportable Event Form.

It is mandatory that care providers, nurses, and family members inform us immediately via e-mail or over the phone or about all events which may be qualified as “reportable events” (listed below).  Subsequently, we will take action – call the case manager and submit a written Reportable Event Form.

Reportable events are defined as events that “may pose an immediate and/or serious risk to the physical or mental health, safety, or well being of a waiver participant or complaints regarding the administrative service”.  Inappropriate actions of case managers may also be considered as reportable events.

The following occurrences are defined as reportable events:

Incidents

– Abandonment – desertion of a participant by somebody who is expected to provide care.
– Abuse: physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional.
– Accidents or injuries requiring treatment beyond first aid.
– Death
– Emergency room treatment
– Exploitation: theft and financial
– Hospitalization, including hospitalization for observation only
– Missing person
– Neglect and self neglect: nutritional, medical (not taking medication), environmental
– Treatment errors: medication or personal care issues
– Rights violation
– Use of restraints, including physical, chemical, and seclusion
– Infectious deceases

Complaints

– Service quality
– Communication issues
– Delays in services
– Unprofessionalism (absence of professionalism)

Please inform us immediately if you encounter any facts of abuse on the part of any individual – social workers, nurses, or our workers.  We will try to help you in a difficult situation.