Medical Emergencies, Sudden Changes, and Death in the Home
Sets what aides do in a medical emergency (call 911 first, stay with the client, give responders any POLST or prehospital do-not-resuscitate form, then call the office), how sudden changes that are not emergencies are reported the same day, what to do when a client does not answer the door, and what to do when a client appears to have died. Emergency procedures are part of the entry-level safety training required by Cal. Health & Safety Code §1796.44(b)(2).
About this policy
- Policy number
- CA-HC-SAF-02
- Version
- 1.0
- Main rule
- Cal. Health & Safety Code §1796.44(b)(2)
- Library
- California home care · 50 policies
- Category
- Service delivery
- Sections
- 19
In short
- In an emergency, call 911 first, then the office. If you are not sure it is an emergency, call 911.
- Stay with the client, unlock the door and give the responders any POLST or DNR form and the medication list.
- Never decide not to call 911, and never decide that a client has died.
- If a client appears to have died, call 911 and the office, do not move anything, and wait for the responders.
- Call the office the same day about any sudden change, and write an incident report after any emergency.
What's inside
19 sections. The full text comes with the One-time Policy Pack.
- Terms of Reference
- 1. Purpose
- 2. Scope
- 3. Definitions
- 4. Policy Statement (Cal. Health & Safety Code §1796.44(b)(2))
- 5. Recognizing an Emergency
- 6. What to Do in an Emergency
- 7. POLST and Advance Directives
- 8. Sudden Changes That Are Not Emergencies
- 9. When the Client Does Not Answer
- 10. When a Client Appears to Have Died
- 11. After an Emergency or Death
- 12. Responsibilities
- 13. Records and Compliance Monitoring
- 14. Staff Training
- 15. References
- 16. Related Policies and Forms
- 17. Approval
- 18. Revision History
An inspector may ask
- What does an aide do if a client is not breathing or cannot be woken?
- What does an aide do if the client has a POLST form?
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