.png)
Policy Overview
Our Pediatric Home Health Care Department is dedicated to providing compassionate, specialized care to children with a range of health needs. Understanding the importance of consistent and continuous care, we have established a clear policy for the transfer and discharge of patients to ensure every transition is handled with the child's best interest at heart.
The policy adheres to professional standards, ensuring every child receiving home health care services has a comprehensive clinical record that includes past and current medical information, treatment plans, and progress notes. Our approach to transfers and discharges is guided by the following principles:
- Maintaining Comprehensive Records: Each patient's clinical record contains identifying information, physician details, treatment orders, and regular progress updates. These records are crucial for supporting seamless care transitions, whether for discharge or transfer to another facility.
- Retention of Records: We retain clinical records for seven years post-discharge, safeguarding vital health information even if our agency discontinues operations. This retention policy ensures that a child's health history is preserved for future medical needs.
- Confidentiality and Protection: Patient records are privileged and confidential. We have stringent measures to protect these records from unauthorized access. Any release of information requires written consent from the patient's guardian, aligning with legal and contractual obligations.
Transfer and Discharge Criteria
- Voluntary Discharge: Guardians can request the discharge of their child from our services at any time. We prefer receiving written notice to better understand the reasons behind the decision and ensure a smooth transition.
- Involuntary Discharge or Transfer: Conditions necessitating an involuntary change include the exceedance of our care scope, a significant alteration in the patient's needs, or safety concerns. Other reasons might be operational changes such as service location adjustments.
The Process
- Notice: Guardians will receive written notice at least 45 days before a proposed change, detailing the reasons and planning for the transition.
- Collaboration: In cases of transfer, we work closely with the receiving provider to ensure they have a full understanding of the child's needs. This includes arranging visits to the new provider if part of the service plan.
- Continuity of Care: We continue providing authorized services during the transition period until the new provider takes over, ensuring no gap in the child’s care.
- Record Transfer: A complete copy of the patient's record is shared with the new provider before the day of transfer, while the original record is retained as per regulation.
Commitment to Care
At CareSphere's Pediatric Home Health Care Department, every decision regarding the transfer or discharge of a patient is made with careful consideration of what is best for the child and their family. Our policies are designed to protect the well-being of our patients while respecting the choices and rights of their guardians.