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Medical Emergencies, Advance Directives, and Changes in Condition

Tells direct care workers how to recognize and report changes in a consumer’s condition, what to do in a medical emergency (call 911 first), how the Agency records and respects a consumer’s advance health care directive and Pennsylvania out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate order, and what to do when a consumer dies, with the reports that follow.

Preview: full text with a package
About this policy
Policy number
PA-HC-SAF-02
Version
1.0
Main rule
28 Pa. Code §611.55(b)(7)
Library
Pennsylvania home care · 49 policies
Category
Service delivery
Sections
20

In short

  • In an emergency, call 911 first, then the office.
  • Tell the 911 dispatcher right away if the consumer has an out-of-hospital DNR order, bracelet, or necklace, or a POLST form, and show it to the responders.
  • Follow the dispatcher’s instructions. You do not decide whether to start or stop CPR.
  • Know where the consumer’s Emergency Information Sheet is kept, and give it to responders.
  • Report changes in the consumer to your supervisor: urgent changes before you leave, other changes the same day.

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 (28 Pa. Code §611.55(b)(7))
  • 5. Recognizing and Reporting Changes in Condition
  • 6. In a Medical Emergency
  • 7. Advance Directives and Out-of-Hospital DNR Orders
  • 7.1 Asking and Recording
  • 7.2 What the Law Says about DNR Orders
  • 7.3 What Workers Do
  • 8. When a Consumer Dies
  • 9. The Emergency Information Sheet
  • 10. Responsibilities
  • 11. Records and Compliance Monitoring
  • 12. Staff Training
  • 13. References
  • 14. Related Policies and Forms
  • 15. Approval
  • 16. Revision History

An inspector may ask

  • What does a direct care worker do if they find a consumer unresponsive?
  • How does the worker know whether this consumer has an out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate order, and what do they do with it?

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