Do you coordinate with external agencies?


There are times when you are providing services to a client who has another health care entity involved. Some of the more common examples might be: client signs on with hospice, sharing services with a high hour (24/7) client with another home care agency, client gets discharged from SNF and has home health

But, did you document care coordination with these other agencies?

If you're not documenting coordinating care, you could get a deficiency!

Chapter 26, 5.11 - Coordination with External HCAs

(A) Each HCA shall be responsible for the coordination
of consumer services with known external HCAs providing
care and services to the same consumer.
(1) No HCA shall refuse to share consumer care
information unless the consumer has chosen to refuse
coordination with external HCAs.
(2) The consumer's refusal of such coordination shall
be documented in the consumer's record.

Today, let's take a look at what you need to do to document coordination!  

Be sure to communicate with other agencies working with the same client...

What are some ways to coordinate care?
  • Initiate a Care Conference: invite members from another home care agency to discuss the services provided and identify ways to work together for the benefit of the client
  • Document Conversations: be sure to enter notes into the client record when a supervisor has a conversation with another home care agency (this is the easiest way to show care coordination)
  • Ask Client at Intake: when signing up a new client, ask them if they are working with any other agencies that will be coming into the home
  • Send a Letter to HCA: when you learn there is another agency, send a letter (or email) to the agency informing them that you are initiating services and welcome the opportunity to work together
  • Schedule a dual Supervisory Visit: contact the supervisor for the other agency and see if you can schedule to be a client's home at the same time to review Care Plans, observe cares, etc.
  • Pick up the Phone: perhaps the easiest way to coordinate is to just call the other agency and initiate the relationship to work together 

 

Do you have an External Care Coordination Policy? It is required by CDPHE regs.

Interested in a sample External Care Coordination Policy & Form? 

The form can be used when you are documenting care coordination with another HCA.

You can download a template below!

Coordinate care with other agencies to make happy clients...

I WANT CARE COORDINATION POLICY & FORM!