Pain and Symptom Management and Care of the Actively Dying Patient
Sets the Agency’s written protocols for assessing, planning, treating and reassessing pain and other symptoms, responding to a symptom-management crisis within one hour, moving to a higher level of care when symptoms cannot be managed at home, caring for the actively dying patient and family, and the safeguards for palliative sedation.
About this policy
- Policy number
- GA-HSP-PAIN-01
- Version
- 1.0
- Main rule
- 42 CFR §418.52(c)(1)
- Library
- Georgia hospice · 60 policies
- Category
- Hospice care
- Sections
- 18
In short
- Every patient has the right to effective pain and symptom control. Ask about pain at every visit.
- If the patient cannot tell you, use the behavioral pain tool and ask the family.
- In a symptom crisis, a nurse must be on site within one hour of the call.
- If a symptom is not controlled for more than a day, call the physician for new orders the same day.
- Aides and volunteers: report signs of pain or distress to the RN the same day.
What's inside
18 sections. The full text comes with the One-time Policy Pack.
- Terms of Reference
- 1. Purpose
- 2. Scope
- 3. Definitions
- 4. Policy Statement (42 CFR §418.52(c)(1))
- 5. Assessing Pain and Symptoms
- 6. Planning Care
- 7. Treating and Reassessing
- 8. Symptom Crises and Escalation
- 9. Care of the Actively Dying Patient
- 10. Palliative Sedation
- 11. Responsibilities
- 12. Records and Compliance Monitoring
- 13. Staff Training
- 14. References
- 15. Related Policies and Forms
- 16. Approval
- 17. Revision History
An inspector may ask
- Show me how pain was assessed and reassessed for this patient, including a patient who cannot report pain.
- Where are your written protocols for symptom control and medication management?
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