Policy Manual sample

MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. GUIDELINES FOR MEDICAL MANAGEMENT AND PHYSICIAN’S RESPONSIBILITIES PURPOSE: To define the responsibilities of physicians managing the medical care of the patients of the Agency. GUIDELINES:  The home care plan may be carried out by the patient alone, or with family support and/or with professional caregivers. The physician’s role includes:  Management of medical problems  Identification of home care needs of the patient (Including Face to Face requirement)  Establishment/approval of a plan treatment with identification of both short and long term goals  Evaluation of new, acute or emergent medical problems based on information supplied by other team members  Provision for continuity of care to and from all settings (institution, home and community)  Communication with the patient and other team members and with physician consultants  Support for other team members  Participation, as needed, in home care/family conferences  Reassessment of care plan, outcomes of care  Documentation in appropriate medical records  Timely completion of paperwork  Provisions for 24-hour-on-call coverage by a physician  Confidentiality of communication between the physician and the Agency staff Note: Adapted from the Guidelines for the Medical Management of the Home Care Patient- American Medical Association. Home Health Agency Nursing Manual J-60