PATIENT CARE ASPECTS
Posted by admin on November 18th, 2009Although nursing homes are part of the medical continuum of care, they should nol be considered hospitals for the chronically ill. Rather, they should be considered places where people live and where health care and many other services are provided. Many people fear nursing home placement and regard it as a life sentence of mental and physical imprisonment. Too often, nursing home residents are deprived of their
rights because institutional regimentation and routines take priority over personal choices and preferences. To protect residents, the federal Nursing Home Requirements for Participation in Medicare or Medicaid give equal weight to residents’ rights, quality of life, and quality of care. Because the typical nursing home resident has complex problems, OBRA 87 emphasizes comprehensive assessment by a multidisciplinary team. Whether the team consists solely of such core members as (he physician, nurse, and social worker or also includes a nutritionist, phar¬macist, physical and occupational therapists, and others, each member has a responsibility to ensure that four activities are carried out. < 1) The resident is thoroughly assessed; (2) a comprehensive care plan is devel¬oped; (3) the care plan is implemented; and (4) the success of the care plan is evaluated, and appropriate modifications are made.
Tags: PATIENT
