Home Health Aide- PAH

Home Health Aide

The Home Health Aide is a trained paraprofessional who performs basic nursing or therapy functions, such as personal care, prescribed therapeutic exercises and household services essential to providing health care at home following a specific written plan of care. The Registered Nurse Clinical Case Manager supervises the Home Health Aide and the Home Health Aide plan of care in the home. If there is not an RN on the case, then a Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, or Speech Language Pathologist supervises the HHA and the POC for that case.

Position Specific Responsibilities

• Provides competent personal care as outlined on the Home Health Aide Plan of Care established by the patient, family caregiver and case manager.
• Recognizes that the plan of care identifies the tasks the HHA is allowed to perform and that any additional patient needs require development of a new plan of care by the case manager.
• Provides care in a safe comprehensive fashion treating each patient with dignity and respect while maintaining confidentiality.
• Performs basic nursing care as directed and instructed by the supervising nurse including taking and recording vital signs and temperature performing simple dressing changes and assisting with routine bowel care.
• Provides personal care including but not limited to bath assist oral and denture care skin hair and nail care shaving and nail trimming.
• Assists patient to use the bathroom or in using a bedpan or commode.
• Provides care of surgical or prosthetic appliances or devices as instructed including catheters colostomies leg braces and dentures.
• Assists with prescribed exercises as taught by the Physical Therapist Occupational Therapist or Registered Nurse and as described in the plan of care.
• Assists with positioning patients in bed and provides assistance with bed transfers ambulation and mobility.
• Assists patients with medications that are ordinarily self administered by the patient as directed by the Registered Nurse.
• Performs light housekeeping that facilitates the patient's self care at home and is necessary to support health and recovery.
• Observes and reports changes in condition body functions and needs to the professional responsible for the patient's care.
• Completes appropriate records and documentation of patient status and care or services furnished.
• Works collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team to develop implement and update the plan of care.
• Responds to urgent needs by prioritizing and triaging visits.
• Communicates schedule and work plan daily to supervisor Scheduler and other team members as appropriate.
• Provides patient information to Clinical Supervisor Manager and staffing for effective communication and coordination.
• Independently manages caseload plans and schedules home visits and coordinates with other team members to maximize effectiveness of care.
• Organizes weekly schedule to attend required meetings while maintaining patient care needs.
• Organizes and coordinates transfer of patient information for coverage during absences.
• Provides reinforcement to patient and family as identified in the plan of care to promote independence and health at discharge.
• Obtains required 12 hours of in service education per year which may occur in classroom or documented in field education.
• Recognizes the need for ongoing instruction to maintain and advance skills and knowledge for patient care in the home.
• Participates in required agency in service programs and community education to remain clinically current and participates in quality improvement activities as requested.
• Demonstrates ability to manage time effectively and efficiently.
• Meets agency productivity expectations.
• Checks responds to and follows up with voice mail messages in a timely manner.
• Manages and updates schedule daily.
• Meets productivity standards and completes visit documentation on the day of the visit in compliance with the 48 hour documentation policy.
• Participates in care plan meetings and interdisciplinary team meetings as appropriate.
• Works closely with clinicians to ensure patients are assisted with activities of daily living specimen collection and supervised ambulation as directed.
• Orients and trains new Home Health Aides as directed by Clinical Supervisor Manager.
• Must be able to work in pet friendly home environments which may include exposure to cats dogs or birds.

Education and/or Experience

• Required - Education to meet certification, license or registration requirements.
• AK: No Education Requirement
• AK: Preferred - 1 year Experience providing personal care, or working in homecare setting.
• CA: Preferred - 1 year Experience as a Home Health Aide.
• OR: Required - 2 years Experience (exception would be a nursing student with current CNA). Experience using electronic medical record software.
• WA: Preferred - 1 year Previous experience required as a nurse's aide, hospice aide, orderly, or related experience in an acute, rehabilitative, or long term care facility, or home health/hospice organization.

Skills

• Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percentage.
• Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from leaders, team members, investors, and external parties. Strong written and verbal communications.
• Language Skills: Ability to communicate and work cohesively in a multidisciplinary team environment. Requires ability to communicate in English effectively both verbally and in writing. Ability to understand, read, write, and speak English. Articulates and embraces integrated healthcare at home philosophy.
• Other Skills and Abilities: Demonstrates competency by maintaining positive, collaborative, and constructive interpersonal relationships. Understands and practices the principles of effective teamwork. Demonstrates ability to prioritize work assignments and meet productivity and quality standards. Demonstrates ability to work with minimum supervisory guidance and exercises independent judgment within the scope of practice; adapts easily to changes in work assignments and environment, is willing to assume additional responsibility and learn new procedures.
• Other Qualifications: Ability to work flexible hours.

Certifications, Licenses, and Registrations

• BLS Requirement: National Provider BLS required within 30 days of hire. American Heart Association. Vendor managed.

State Specific Requirements Other

• In states where licensure is not required, applicants must complete a state approved nurse aide training program and have been continuously employed in that capacity for the previous 24 months.

Alaska

• Must complete a state-approved training program equivalent to the federal 75-hour HHA standard and/or have a home health aide certificate from an approved training program meeting these requirements. Must work under the supervision of a registered nurse.

California

• To provide home health aide services in California, an individual must be Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) licensed by the Department of Health to perform CNA-level direct patient care activities in a home health setting. Criminal record clearance is required.

Texas

• A home health aide must meet one of the following:Be currently listed on the Texas Nurse Aide Registry with no finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation; orHave successfully completed a training and competency evaluation programs that meets the federal 75-hour HHA standard; orHave at least one year of full-time experience in direct patient care within the last 24 months under RN supervision; orHave completed healthcare training in a related field (i.e., medical assistant, LVN) and successfully passed an RN conducted competency evaluation.Annual competency evaluation and ongoing supervision by a registered nurse is required.

Washington

• To provide home health aide services in Washington, an individual must be Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) licensed by the Department of Health or have successfully completed a 75-hour home health aide training program approved by the Department of Health. Annual competency evaluation and ongoing supervision by a registered nurse is required. Driving may be necessary for this role. Caregivers must comply with state driving laws and requirements. Proof of driver license and auto insurance may be requested. See policy for additional information.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The demands of this role necessitate a team member to effectively perform essential functions. Adaptations can be made to accommodate team members with disabilities. Regular standing, walking, and manual dexterity are fundamental, along with the ability to lift and move objects up to 50 pounds. Visual acuity requirements include close and distance vision, color and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. In a healthcare setting, exposure to bodily