WHAT IS TELEHEALTH? 

The Ohio Department of Medicaid and Centers for Medicare Services have issued new guidelines to allow certain types of "non complex" nursing visits to be conducted via telephone or video chat.

This is being done as a TEMPORARY measure to limit the contact between health care providers and patients who do not need to be seen in person as much as possible, during this pandemic. Therefore, we are issuing the following protocol in order to allow for Nursing Telehealth visits and to protect our team members and patients.

Effective immediately RNs can perform the following types of visits, AND ONLY THESE VISITS, via telephone or video chat: 

• Re certifications
• Resumption of Care
• 60-Day Supervisory Visits

PROCEDURE:

• The RN must schedule the date and time for the Telehealth visit with the patient and the home health aide, (when there is an aide).

• The RN must make sure the aide is still present at the patient's home during this visit.

• The RN should enlist the aide's help in obtaining vital signs from the patient. Or can also have the parent check vitals as well and document them as "reported by..." on the visit note.

• The RN must complete a visit note, and all documentation on MEDCAT within 48 hours of the call. This is not different from before.

• The RN must document on the visit paper note that this was a Telehealth visit completed via telephone, with the time and date.

• The RN must document also on the Supervisory Evaluation Form that this was completed via Telehealth.

• The RN must document that this was a Telehealth visit on the patient's 30-day Document in their MEDCAT chart. 

• The RN must ask patient, aide or legal guardian if there are wounds / ulcers / skin conditions that are being observed. If the patient has skin conditions that are typically noted / monitored during routine re-certification visits - request assistance of client and aide to have a photo taken and sent to your @inhomwecare.com email. These must be documented on the visit note and on the assessment. DO NOT ASK the patient to send you the photos to your personal email. If you don't have an inhomwecare.com email, please have them sent to: administration@inhomewecare.com.

• The RN will upload any photos provided by the patient to the patient's MEDCAT chart. Go to Upload, and create a new folder in the patient's chart. Label it according to the type of visit you are conducting with the date. Example: "Re-certification_DATE". Then upload the photos or any other applicable documents to this folder. You should create a new folder for every visit.

• Remember to use HIPAA procedures in all communications. Only use initials or patient ID numbers not full names. And remind the patient or their caregiver to do the same.  

A NOTE ABOUT USING VIDEO CHAT:

RNs can use Facetime, Skype, or Zoom which are non-public facing remote communications products, to communicate with patients. DO  NOT USE Facebook Live, Twitch, TikTok, Instagram and similar video communication applications that are public facing because they can be easily viewed by others and violate the patient's privacy. 

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT US.  

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN HELP PREVENT THE VIRUS FROM SPREADING

Effective: 3/23/20