VAHHA Clinical Pages
The following clinical documents and programs are available on-line:
1. VAHHA's Web-based Training Programs
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM: VAHHA is offering a wide variety of convenient online courses to the member agencies. The courses are for professional staff, direct care workers, and office staff. Topics of study range from infection control to HIPAA rules, from wound care to confidentiality procedures. Questions, call 1-800-713-0893 in Vermont or 802-229-0579
2.
Web-based Workshop on the Future of Home Care
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM:
The Home Care Information Network (HCIN), a web-based educational company with
which is now broadcasting a 40-minute
seminar on the Future of Home Care.
The presenter is Gene Tischer, the president of the Florida home care
association. The works deals with staffing shortages, nurse delegation,
performance-based reimbursement, burdensome regulations and a variety of other
challenges our industry faces. The program was produced for the Council of State
Home Care Associations and is being made available at no charge as a service to
providers across the country.
3. Maternal, Child Health Home Visiting Nursing Standards and Competencies
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT: The VAHHA standards and competencies for maternal and child health (MCH) home visiting nursing were developed to contribute to positive health outcomes for pregnant women, children and their families. The competencies developed specify the technical, interpersonal and critical thinking skills necessary to meet the established and acceptable practice. This document was developed by a team from the Vermont Department of Health and home health to be used as a service guide for these programs. PLEASE NOTE THIS DOCUMENT IS CURRENTLY BEING UPDATED.
4. OASIS Web Training
ABOUT THESE LINK: Home health agencies can download and start using a
web-based training tool developed and made available by the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS). The tool was
pilot-tested this summer and covers all parts of the OASIS assessment
process.
The Questions and Answers link connects you to the CMS OASIS home page.
5. Wound Care ( At the WOCN site click on "OASIS Guidance Document".)
ABOUT THIS LINK: The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) has just updated its website to include OASIS Guidance for interpretation of the following terms: fully granulating, early partial granulation, and non-healing. There is a status description for each of the following: pressure ulcer, stasis ulcer, and surgical wound. This is an aid for clinical staff in response for M064, M0476, and M0488.
6. 3M OASIS Integrity Report. (PDF Format)
ABOUT THIS LINK: Fifty national
experts contributed to the best practices recommendations. This document
includes the recommended questions and techniques for OASIS from the National 3M OASIS Integrity Project, an effort to develop
clinician-friendly (simple and short) guidelines for ensuring accurate OASIS
assessments, which was developed through a three-way partnership between the
National Association for Home Care, the 3M Company and Fazzi Associates.
Question? Call 802-229-0579 (toll free in VT
1-800-713-0893)
7. Drug Regimen Review for Rehab Staff
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT: Medicare Conditions of Participation require a review of all medications the patients are using in order to identify any potential adverse effects and drug reactions. This drug regimen is part of the comprehensive review.
8. OASIS Training - Course Outline for VAHHA OASIS Accuracy Training Course.
9. CMS Home Care Manual: The 93-page Medicare Benefits Policy Manual, Chapter 7, Home Care Services
10. A National Framework for Palliative and Hospice Care Quality Measurement and Reporting (PDF Format)
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT: The National Quality Forum (NQF) has published “A National Framework for Palliative and Hospice Care Quality Measurement and Reporting.,” The draft document is available for review and comment by NQF members.
11. HIPAA Privacy Decision Tool
ABOUT THIS LINK: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has published a new Web-based interactive decision tool designed to assist emergency preparedness and recovery planners in determining how to access and use health information about persons with disabilities consistent with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule. The tool will guide emergency preparedness and recovery planners through a series of questions regarding how the HIPAA Privacy Rule applies to a particular disclosure. By helping users focus on the source of the information being disclosed, to whom it is being disclosed, and for what purpose, users will better meet the needs of the elderly or persons with disabilities in the event of an evacuation. While the tool’s initial purpose focused on emergency planning for persons with disabilities, it is applicable to most emergency planning efforts.