7 AAC 12.519. Home health aide services

(a) If a home health agency provides home health aide services, those services must be provided

(1) by a nurse aide certified by the board of nursing, who meets home health requirements and has completed the competency evaluation requirements in (f) of this section;

(2) by a home health aide who is not on the abuse registry maintained by the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development;

(3) in accordance with a plan of care; and

(4) in accordance with written instructions prepared by a registered nurse, or appropriate therapist providing therapy under 7 AAC 12.521, that specify each task to be completed during a home visit.

(b) A home health aide employed by a home health agency shall

(1) follow a current written plan of care;

(2) perform simple procedures as an extension of therapy services;

(3) provide personal care, including bathing, hair care, oral hygiene, skin care, and hand and foot care;

(4) assist the patient with ambulation and exercise;

(5) assist with the nutritional needs of the patient;

(6) assist with patient administered, non-prescription and prescription medications, by handing the patient the medication bottle or medications prepared under the supervision of a registered nurse or a physician;

(7) report changes in the patient's condition and needs, and complete appropriate records; and

(8) take and record vital signs.

(c) A home health agency shall provide and document orientation of a home health aide within the two weeks immediately following that aide's employment. Orientation must include information on the following matters:

(1) applicable state and federal law and the policies and procedures of the agency;

(2) duties of the home health aide;

(3) functions of other health personnel employed by the agency and how they relate to each other in the care of the patient;

(4) coordination of services within the agency and community services; and

(5) ethics and confidentiality.

(d) A registered nurse, or therapist providing service under 7 AAC 12.521, shall make a supervisory visit to the patient's residence at least once every two weeks, either to observe and assist when the aide is present, or to assess relationships and determine whether goals identified in the plan of care are being met. The registered nurse or therapist must directly observe the in-home performance of each home health aide at least once every three months.

(e) A home health agency shall provide a home health aide with 12 hours of inservice training each calendar year based on the training needs identified through supervisory visits and the needs of patients being served by the home health agency. A home health agency shall provide training for all care duties not included in the basic competency skills identified in (f) of this section.

(f) A home health agency shall maintain sufficient documentation to demonstrate that an individual who furnishes home health aide services is competent in the skills identified in this subsection. Before providing services to patients, a home health aide shall be evaluated for competency in each of the following areas:

(1) communication;

(2) observation, reporting, and documentation of the patient care provided;

(3) maintenance of a clean, safe, and healthy environment;

(4) provision of basic infection control procedures;

(5) knowledge of basic nutrition and fluid intake, including food preparation techniques as appropriate;

(6) reading and recording temperature, pulse, and respiration;

(7) knowledge and observation of basic elements of body functioning and changes in body function that must be reported to an aide's supervisor;

(8) recognition of emergencies and knowledge of emergency procedures;

(9) recognition of the physical, emotional, and developmental needs of, and ways to work with, the clients served by the home health agency, including respect for the patient, the patient's privacy, and the patient's property;

(10) use of appropriate and safe techniques of personal hygiene and grooming, including

(A) a bed bath;

(B) a sponge, tub, or shower bath;

(D) nail and skin care;

(E) oral hygiene; and

(F) toileting and elimination;

(11) safe transfer techniques and ambulation;

(12) normal range of motion and positioning;

(13) any other task that the home health agency may assign to the home health aide.

History: Eff. 9/6/96, Register 139

Authority: AS 18.05.040

Editor's note: As of Register 171 (October 2004), the regulations attorney made technical revisions under AS\n 44.62.125(b)(6) to reflect the name change of the Department of Community and Economic Development to the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development made by ch. 47, SLA 2004 and the corresponding title change of the commissioner of community and economic development.

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