Assistance with Self-Administered Medication
In-home workers never administer medication. A worker may assist a participant who takes his or her own medication, for example by opening bottles and getting water, and may apply nonprescription topical products to unbroken skin. A certified APC aide may give manual assistance with medications a licensed nurse has set up. A nurse on an authorized visit may fill insulin syringes and set up oral medications. Workers watch for and report missed doses, refusals, side effects and errors.
About this policy
- Policy number
- MO-HC-SVC-06
- Version
- 1.0
- Main rule
- 19 CSR 15-7.021(13)(C)
- Library
- Missouri home care · 50 policies
- Category
- Clinical tasks
- Sections
- 19
In short
- Never give medication; you may only help a participant take his or her own.
- You may open bottles, read labels, pour water, and apply non-prescription lotion to unbroken skin.
- Never fill pill boxes or insulin syringes, crush pills, or put medication in a participant's mouth.
- Call 911 for breathing trouble, swelling of the face or throat, or if the participant is very hard to wake.
- Report missed doses, refusals and side effects to the office the same visit.
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 (19 CSR 15-7.021(13)(C))
- 5. Who May Give Which Help
- 6. What Workers May Do
- 7. What Workers Must Never Do
- 8. When a Participant Cannot Self-Administer
- 9. Observing and Reporting
- 10. Medications in the Home
- 11. Documentation
- 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 may your aides do when a participant takes medication?
- Who sets up medications in pill organizers, and where is it documented?
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