When we speak with others about safeguarding the health of people in care, a critical element is ensuring timely and appropriate medical support. A recent episode of the “Could This Happen In Your Program” podcast highlighted the importance of body checks for a person who may be unable to report pain or describe an injury
What other considerations should staff follow to ensure that people receiving services get timely medical attention? The acronym CARES serves as a reminder.
C
Care plans: Support staff by creating care plans that identify medical concerns, treatments, and the supports required for people in their care. These care plans should be reviewed annually to ensure they are updated as medical needs change.
A
Agency policies and administrative oversight: Establish requirements for providing medical care and incorporate them into your official policies and procedures. This will include policies for monitoring and auditing medical documentation to ensure that people receive medications, attend medical appointments, and receive follow-up treatment as required.
R
Resources: Provide resources to ensure medical needs are addressed. For example:
- Create “pain pictures” that staff can use to help identify individual signs and symptoms of illness.
- Use triage manuals to help on-call nurses ask specific, targeted questions to ensure staff accurately report medical issues and concerns.
- Hang posters or signs in program areas with reminders for staff to contact 911 in an emergency.
E
Educate: Provide training to equip staff with knowledge of care plans, policies, adaptive equipment, and all required medical supports. In-person, interactive training is best! Staff should also be trained to respond to medical emergencies and receive sensitivity training to ensure they provide thoughtful, person-centered supports. As always, document all training provided!
S
Staff: Your staff is your greatest agency asset! Supervise, support, and promote best practices for staff to ensure medical care is provided as required. Ensure staff assignments are manageable and allow time for critical duties.
For more information, including sample resources and information on specialized topics, please see our Best Practices for Effective Medical Care toolkit.
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