Consent Legalities
How far in advanced of an admission, can consent paperwork legally be signed by the patient and/or authorized representative?
What is: Up to two weeks prior to the date of scheduled admission.
Why do we care about Emrgency Preparedness?
What is: Because we need families to to think about / prepare for potential issues such as power for Oxygen tanks and Electric Hospital beds for bedbound patients and how / where they would evacuate to in event of need.
As indicated on the Election of Hospice Benefit, what is the patient and/or authorized representative responsible for reporting immediately.
What are: any changes in the condition of the patient which will affect the plan of care AND of any decision to seek or obtain treatment or services on included in the Hospice Plan of Care.
What two consent documents are required to be signed by patient and/or authorized representative, before any hands-on assessment of patient can occur?
What are: The Election of Hospice Benefit and Informed Consent forms.
A patient or authorized representative wishes to contact the Toll Free Hotline for their appropriate state. When will their call be answered and complaint / concern investigated?
What is: 7 days per week, 24 hours per day.
Which of the consents indicate that the patient and/or authorized representative may refuse to sign the specific form AND that their refusal to sign will not affect their ability to obtain treatment or payment or eligibility for benefits.
What is: the Release of Medical Records Authorization form.
What should be done with the hospice packet, when the patient resides in a skilled nursing facility?
What is: be placed in uppermost available drawer of night stand, for reference when family members present and in even of an audit.
What must be documented, for anyone other than the RN Case Manager, to be present at time of initial visit.
What is: Permission by the patient and/or authorized representative for anyone other than RN CM making admission visit.
Once the admission is completed and handbook is initially reviewed, what should we encourage the patient / representatives to do with the admission packets / hospice handbooks.
What is: put them in a location where patient / authorized representative / caregivers can locate at any given time, in order to be used for teaching and review by all disciplines making visits and in event of an audit.
On the Informed Consent document, under the heading Medications, what is the patient and primary care person responsible for?
What is: the safe-keeping of the medications, correct administration of the medication per prescription and direction of the nurse, and disposal at the time of death/discharge.
During your second social work visit, you notice numerous cords on the floors that you almost trip over and it seems darker inside the home than you remembered during your initial visit. You ask them to bring you the hospice folder so you can use it during your visit. Why?
What is: to use the Check For Safety booklet to do a Home Safety review.
When is the patient not allowed to sign consent documentation?
What is: When he/she is determined to lack the capacity to make decisions or retain the information presented, that they are agreeing to.
When, and how, does emergency preparedness begin?
What is: At the time of admission and through use of hospice patient and caregiver handbook.
***** DAILY DOUBLE ***** When completing Consent Documents to initiate hospice services, when is a verbal authorization permitted on behalf of a signature?
What is: NEVER. A verbal election is never allowed. The signature of the individual and/or authorized representative is always required.
How is it determined who can sign consents?
What is: Patient should always be encouraged to sign; legal progression of power.
Where, within the Hospice Patient and Caregiver Handbook, can you best review the after hours on call process?
What is: inside the front cover. This page can actually be copied and provided for patients / authorized representatives to place on their refrigerator, and other locations, for continuous reference.
What is required to be completed on all of the consents?
What is: every line should be filled out and every box should be checked off at completion of consent process.
You have a family member that needs a break from caregiving. You have educated them about In-patient respite and discuss it's availability of 5 days. The family member tells you 'we have friends who got 7 days with (Agency ZX) Hospice.' What document in the folder can be used to support your information.
What is: the Medicare Hospice Benefits booklet on page that describes Respite benefit of hospice.