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Death in the Home and Care at the Time of Death

Sets out what staff do when a patient is found dead or dies during a visit: honoring a valid Missouri outside-the-hospital do-not-resuscitate order or identification, otherwise calling 911 and starting CPR if trained; immediately contacting the county coroner or medical examiner as RSMo §58.451.2 or §58.720.2 requires for a death outside a licensed facility; notifying the practitioner, family and clinical manager; protecting the scene of an unexpected or suspicious death; handling medications and equipment; and completing the discharge record.

Preview: full text with a package
About this policy
Policy number
MO-HH-CS-05
Version
1.0
Main rule
42 CFR §484.50(d)(6) (adopted by 19 CSR 30-26.010(1)(A))
Library
Missouri home health · 57 policies
Category
Clinical tasks
Sections
20

In short

  • If a patient is unresponsive and there is no valid Missouri out-of-hospital DNR order or ID, call 911 and start CPR if you are trained.
  • If a valid out-of-hospital DNR order or ID is present, do not start CPR; comfort the family.
  • Nurses and therapists who learn of a death at home must contact the county coroner or medical examiner right away. Aides call the clinical manager or on-call nurse.
  • If a death is sudden, violent or suspicious, do not move the body or anything around it.
  • Never take or throw away the patient's medications. Give the family disposal information.

What's inside

20 sections. The full text comes with the One-time Policy Pack.

Full text with a package
  • Terms of Reference
  • 1. Purpose
  • 2. Scope
  • 3. Definitions
  • 4. Policy Statement (42 CFR §484.50(d)(6) (adopted by 19 CSR 30-26.010(1)(A)))
  • 5. Planning Ahead With Patients Who Are Seriously Ill
  • 6. Finding a Patient Who Is Unresponsive
  • 7. After a Death: Who to Contact
  • 8. Unexpected, Sudden, or Suspicious Deaths
  • 9. Care of the Body and Personal Belongings
  • 10. Medications and Equipment After a Death
  • 11. Closing the Clinical Record
  • 12. Support for Families and Staff
  • 13. Responsibilities
  • 14. Records and Compliance Monitoring
  • 15. Staff Training
  • 16. References
  • 17. Related Policies and Forms
  • 18. Approval
  • 19. Revision History

An inspector may ask

  • What does your nurse do on finding a patient who has died at home?
  • Who contacts the coroner or medical examiner, and how quickly?

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