Policy Manual sample

MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. MEDICATION DISCONTINUATION POLICY Policy: Describe strategies for communicating discontinuation of medications with patients/caregivers. Identify principles of decision making about drug treatment Importance: • Medication risk outweighs benefit • Lack of evidence to support continuation of therapy • Does not meet patient plan of care • Therapeutic benefit is diminished • Polypharmacy • Meeting Conditions of Participation (CoP) requirements for Medicare, and other standards and regulations. Procedure: Discontinuation of Medication must be in base to Goals of care, Treatment targets and Physician order, Indication, Effective, Correct dose and directions, Interactions (with drugs or disease states), Duplications, Duration acceptable, Less expensive alternative available. 1) When a discontinuation of Medication orders is received verbally, the Director of Nursing (DON, Clinical Manager), or qualified designee must write a Modify Order and sent/fax to the Ordering Physician for signature. 2) If the order is receiving in writing, file the order in the patient’s Medical Record (or scanned copy in the Electronic Record if applicable) 3) If any interaction, duplicity of Medication therapy is detected, the assigned staff must Report the Agency’s DON, Clinical Manager the finding, as soon as possible. The DON, Clinical Manager will contact the patient’s Physician and ask for clarification of the need of the Medication and the possibility of discontinuation/replacement of the drug. An order must be obtained and a communication note about the Physician contact must be entry in the Patient’s record, stated the Physician resolution. Is new order is giving, a Modify Order must be obtained, and update the Medication Form in the Agency and Home folder. 3) Our patient’s assigned staff must explain the order to Patient’s and Caregiver as applicable including the reason for discontinuation, effective date, and if any substitute drug was ordered, explain the use, dosage, frequency, via and possible side effects. 4) Our assigned staff must update the Agency Patient’s Medication Records and Home Copy. 5) Verify that Patient or Caregiver understand the new order, repeat the instructions/teachings as needed. It is important to assess perceived benefit from medication continuation versus the risk of side effects and increased pill burden. Home Health Agency Nursing Manual J-41