WAC 246-335-100   Supervision of hospice care.  The following supervision requirements only apply to hospice agencies:

     (1) A licensee must employ a director of clinical services;

     (2) The director of clinical services or designee must be available twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week;

     (3) The director of clinical services must designate in writing a similarly qualified alternate to act in the director's absence;

     (4) The director of clinical services or designee must assure:

     (a) Coordination, development and revision of written patient and family care policies and procedures related to each service provided;

     (b) Supervision of all patient and family care provided by personnel and volunteers;

     (c) Evaluation of services provided by contractors;

     (d) Coordination of services when one or more licensee is providing care to the patient and family;

     (e) Compliance with the plan of care;

     (f) All direct care personnel, contractors, and volunteers observe and recognize changes in the patient's condition, and report any changes to the director or designee; and

     (g) All direct care personnel, contractors, and volunteers initiate emergency procedures according to agency policy;

     (5) The licensee must document supervision including, but not limited to:

     (a) RN supervision when using the services of a RN or LPN, in accordance with chapter 18.79 RCW;

     (b) Licensed nurse supervision of home health aide services during an on-site visit with or without the home health aide present once a month to evaluate compliance with the plan of care and patient and family satisfaction with care;

     (c) Supervision by a licensed therapist when using the services of a therapy assistant in accordance with the appropriate practice acts; and

     (6) The licensee using home health aides must assure:

     (a) Each home health aide reviews written instructions for the care of each patient and family prior to providing home health aide services and whenever there is a change to the plan of care; and

     (b) Each home health aide assists with medications according to WAC 246-335-015, and agency policy.



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.127 RCW. 02-18-026, § 246-335-100, filed 8/23/02, effective 10/1/02.]