Sec.19-13-D71. Personnel policies

(a) An agency shall have written personnel policies which include but are not limited to:

(1) Orientation policy and procedure. An agency orientation policy for all employees shall include but not be limited to review of the following:

(A) organizational structure of the agency;

(B) agency patient care policies and procedures;

(C) philosophy of patient care;

(D) description of client population and geographic area served;

(E) agency personnel policies and job description;

(F) applicable state and federal regulations governing the delivery of home health care services;

(G) The orientation dates, content, and name and title of the person providing the orientation shall be documented in the employee's personnel folder.

(2) In-service education policy which provides an annual average of at least one (1) hour per month for each employee serving patients. The in-service education shall include current information regarding drugs and treatments; specific service procedures and techniques; recognized professional standards, criteria and classification of clients served.

Agencies that employ homemaker-home health aides shall ensure that homemaker-home health aides attend in-service sessions. The in-service education program shall be provided under the supervision of the supervisor of clinical service or a designated registered nurse who possesses a minimum of two (2) years of nursing experience, at least one (1) year of which must be in the provision of home health care. On and after January 1, 1993 any home health care agency that utilizes a homemaker-home health aide from a placement agency or from a nursing pool shall maintain sufficient documentation to demonstrate these requirements are met.

(3) A policy and procedure for an annual performance evaluation, which includes a process for corrective action when an employee receives an unsatisfactory performance evaluation;

(4) Position descriptions;

(5) Physical examination, including tuberculin test and a physician's or his/her designee's statement that the employee is free from communicable diseases, must be prior to assignment to patient care activities.

(b) For all employees employed directly or by contracts with individuals the agency shall maintain individual personnel records containing at least the following:

(1) Educational preparation and work experience;

(2) Current licensure, registration or certification;

(3) Written performance evaluations;

(4) Signed contract or letter of appointment specifying conditions of employment;

(5) Record of health examinations.

(c) For persons utilized via contract with another agency, not licensed as a home health care or homemaker-home health aide agency, the primary agency shall maintain records containing at least:

(1) A written verification of compliance with health examination requirements and documentation of clinical competence;

(2) Current licensure, registration or certification of each individual utilized by the primary agency;

(3) A resume of educational preparation and work experience for each individual utilized by the primary agency;

(4) The contract for services between the agencies.

(d) For persons utilized via contract with another licensed home health care or homemaker-home health aide agency, the primary agency shall obtain, upon request, records on the education, training or related work experience of such persons.

(Amended August 31, 1998)