Home Health Aide and Team Care Questions & Answers

Home health aide (HHA) - ANSWERSimportant member of the care team who performs assigned tasks and provides routine personal care. Case manager or supervisor - ANSWERSa registered nurse that is assigned to the client to create the basic care plan for the client and makes changes when necessary. Registered nurse (RN) - ANSWERSa licensed nurse who has completed two to four years of education; RNs coordinate, manage, and provide care, supervise and train home health aides, and develop the plan of care. Physical therapist (PT) - ANSWERSa licensed medical professional who has a doctoral or master's degree; PTs develop treatment plans to increase movement, improve circulation, promote healing, reduce pain, prevent disability, and help a person regain or maintain mobility Speech-language pathologist (SLP) - ANSWERSa licensed medical professional who has a master's degree; SLPs develop a plan of care for communication disorders, teach exercises to improve or overcome speech impediments, and evaluate a person's ability to swallow food and drink. Occupational therapist (OT) - ANSWERSa licensed medical professional who has a doctoral or master's degree; OTs help people understand and learn to compensate for disabilities and assist in training people to perform activities of daily living (ADLs). Registered dietitian (RD) - ANSWERSa medical professional who has, at minimum, a bachelor's degree; RDs teach clients about special diets to improve health and help manage illness. Medical social worker (MSW) - ANSWERSa professional who often has a master's degree; MSWs deter- mine clients' needs and help them get support services, such as counseling, meal services, and financial assistance. Scope of practice - ANSWERSdefines the tasks that health- care providers are legally allowed to do and how to do them correctly. Outside the scope of practice for an HHA - ANSWERSAdministering medications Inserting or removing tubes Doing something outside the scope of practice Performing procedures requiring sterile technique Diagnosing or prescribing Telling client the treatment plan Facts about client care plan is individualized for each client - ANSWERSIt is developed to help achieve the goals of care. It lists tasks that team members, including home health aides, must perform. It states how often these tasks should be performed, and how they should be carried out. Psychological - ANSWERSrelating to the mental or emotional. Factors are involved in formulating a care plan - ANSWERSClient's health and physical condition Diagnosis and treatment Goals or expectations Other needed services and resources, such as transportation, equipment, and additional income Socioeconomic - ANSWERSrelating to social and economic factors. Federal regulations that apply to HHAs: - ANSWERSTraining hours (federal and state): HHAs must complete at least 75 hours of training. In-service training: HHAs must have at least 12 hours of education (in-service training) every year. OSHA rules: HHAs must comply with OSHA rules about bloodborne pathogens, Standard Precautions, and tuberculosis. OSHA is a federal government agency that makes rules to protect workers from hazards on the job. Chain of command - ANSWERSthe line of authority within an agency or facility. Liability - ANSWERSa legal term that means someone can be held responsible for harming someone else.