PACE - POLICIES, PROCEDURES & PROTOCOLS
In addition to Agape Home Care Policies, Procedures and Protocols, the following directives are to be observed for all PACE Participants:
1. GENERAL PROTOCOLS - PACE has specific protocols for everything related to PACE Participants and its program (guidelines imposed by the State of California), and AHC staff are to observe these protocols at all times. AHC Staff are not to contact PACE Staff or PACE offices directly unless requested to do so by AHC Management or otherwise described herein. Any questions or concerns related to PACE Participant’s health care, medications, diet, equipment, assigned duties, scheduling, transportation, appointments, etc. shall be initiated by the PACE Participant directly on their own behalf OR be directed to AHC Management unless otherwise directed. AHC Management will contact the appropriate PACE representative to resolve any issues related to PACE Participants.
2. DUTIES PROTOCOLS - AHC Staff are only to provide services expressly requested, authorized and approved by PACE for PACE Participants. This would include transportation services (errands & shopping trips) and duties performed on site (ADL’s & household chores). PACE Participant duties are stated in writing (Plan of Care) and posted on site at Participant’s home, generally in the Participant’s logbook and/or online. Neither PACE Participants, nor AHC Staff are permitted to modify PACE approved duties or schedules, and advanced approval from AHC Management must be given before any changes can be implemented to posted written directives (and only upon approve from PACE).
3. MEDICATION PROTOCOLS (ADMINISTRATION) - AHC Staff are to observe the following protocols when administering Participant medications: 1) administer medications only as prescribed and documented; 2) administer medications from medication dispenser (module or blister pack) only on posted dates and days (do not exchange days or dates - unless directed to do so); 3) document medications given (or declined) in logbook. AHC Staff are to immediately notify AHC Management when/if a Participant’s medications are found to be missed, declined, missing, miss-taken or mislabeled (dates out of synch on module or blister pack) to receive directives.
4. MEDICATION PROTOCOLS (REFILLS) - AHC Staff are to observe the following protocols when ordering refills for medications and medical related supplies and equipment for Participants: 1) whenever possible, the Participant should place their own supplies orders by calling PACE directly – Ronnie Sayres, (707) 443-9747 @ EX 3260; 2) orders are to be submitted before medications and/or supplies run out (allow 48 hours for refill); 3) AHC Staff may place supply orders for Participants who are unable or require assistance doing so (following previous protocols).
5. MEDICATION PROTOCOLS (DISPOSAL) - AHC Staff are to observe the following protocols when Participant medications are discontinued: 1) whenever possible, the Participant should dispose of their own discontinued medications, especially pain medications and other controlled substances. If a Participant wants assistance with this, they should contact PACE directly – Ronnie Sayres, (707) 443-9747 @ EX 3260; 2) For Participants who are unable to dispose of their discontinued medications, especially pain medications and other controlled substances, AHC Staff should contact Agape Management for directives.
6. TRANSPORTATION PROTOCOLS (AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES, LOCATIONS & DAYS) - AHC Staff are only permitted to transport PACE Participants to PACE authorized activities, locations and days (frequency). Unless approval is granted in advance, shopping and errands are limited to once weekly (groceries, household supplies, banking, bill paying). Weekly shopping should be done at a location nearest to the Participant’s residence (in the same town, if possible) and in the most efficient manner possible when traveling to more than one location. Bulk shopping trips to Costco and WINCO (or outside city limits) are to be planned monthly. Unless approval is granted in advance, PACE does not cover transportation costs for Participant’s pleasure or social outings (including pet care). Agape staff are to only claim mileage reimbursement when using their personal vehicles for Participant transportation; recording mileage from the Participant’s residence, to the various locations and returning to the Participant’s residence; detailing on their time sheet the names of each location and why each visit was made.
7. TRANSPORTATION PROTOCOLS (PACE FACILITY - EUREKA) - AHC Staff are to observe the following protocols when transporting Participants to/from PACE (corner of California and Sonoma Streets): 1) PACE DAY CENTER – is accessed through the PACE main building entrance facing California Street; park in the white loading zone directly in front of PACE main entrance; escort Participant up the stairs or ramp into the lobby; office staff will open PACE Day Center doors; escort Participant inside and into the care of PACE staff; 2) PACE CLINIC – is accessed from the alley at the rear of the PACE main building (off Sonoma Street); use parking area nearest the building in the alley; ring bell at alley-facing door and wait for clinic staff to answer; escort Participant inside and into the care of PACE staff; wait in waiting room for Participant’s appointment to conclude unless otherwise directed.
8. TRANSPORTATION PROTOCOLS (SCHEDULING) – Unless otherwise authorized in advance by PACE and AHC Management, PACE Transportation will transport Participants to any/all scheduled appointments. Participants cannot authorize AHC staff to provide transportation on their own (check with AHC Management to confirm). AHC Staff are to observe the following protocols when Participants are unable or unwilling to board PACE transportation as scheduled (Day Program or scheduled appointments): 1) whenever possible, the Participant should notify PACE Transportation directly – Deanna Gordon, (707) 443-9747 @ EX 3250; 2) AHC Staff may notify PACE for Participants who are unable or require assistance doing so (following previous protocols); 3) notify AHC Management of the missed appointment and reason why.
9. SUPPLIES PROTOCOLS - AHC Staff are to observe the following protocols when ordering refills for incontinent and related supplies for Participants (depends, incontinent pads, moist wipes, non-rinse body/hair wash, etc. – NOTE, PACE is not supplying disposable gloves for Participant care at this time): 1) whenever possible, the Participant should place their own supplies orders by calling PACE directly – Wendy Taylor, (707) 443-9747 @ EX 3263; 2) orders are to be submitted before supplies run out (allow two weeks for delivery); 3) AHC Staff may place supply orders for Participants who are unable or require assistance doing so (following previous protocols); 4) incontinent supplies are not to be utilized for unrelated purposes (household cleaning, pet care, etc).
10. EQUIPMENT PROTOCOLS - AHC Staff are to observe the following protocols when Participants’ medical equipment is damaged and in need of repair or replacement: 1) whenever possible, the Participant should notify PACE Physical Therapy Department directly – Bart Rankin PT, (707) 443-9747 @ EX 3212; 2) AHC Staff may notify PACE for Participants who are unable or require assistance doing so (following previous protocols); 3) notify AHC Management about the damaged equipment.
11. INCIDENT REPORTING PROTOCOLS - AHC Management will file an “Incident Report” (using PACE’s proprietary form) to PACE Quality Control for any of the following incidents, either directly observed by Agape staff during the course of their duties or unobserved and reported by others, within one business day of any known incident: 1) suspected abuse of Participants (by others or self-abuse), with suspected abuse form (SOC 341) submitted to Adult Protective Services; 2) slips, falls and/or any injury of Participants, including death; 3) discrepancies observed with Participant finances; 4) discrepancies observed with Participant medications; 5) incidents or interpersonal interactions that negatively impact the health, safety and well-being of Participants; 6) environmental hazards threatening to negatively impact the Participant’s safety or wellbeing
12. COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS & REPORTING PROTOCOLS - AHC staff are required to receive COVID-19 training and pass a quiz to verify appropriate knowledge and skills. AHC staff are required to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and report daily to AHC Management whether they are healthy before reporting for duty (symptom free, not been in direct contact with anyone known to have active COVID-19, not been outside the United States or within a known COVID-19 hot spot). AHC staff are required to report to AHC Manager if they OR any Participant is observed to show COVID-19 symptoms or has been in direct contact with anyone known to have symptoms. AHC staff are required to wear a facemask at all times while in a PACE Participant’s residence, while transporting Participants in a vehicle or within 6 feet of a Participant outdoors. AHC staff are required to practice proper hand washing for infection control and sanitize surfaces while serving Participants. AHC Staff are to be tested for COVID-19 when symptoms are observed or when directly exposed to anyone known to have active COVID-19 or known to have been in direct contact with anyone known to be infected, prior to returning for duty (verified COVID-19 free).