Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 45, November 9, 2024
Section 601.31 - Acceptance of patients, plan of treatment and medical supervision(a)Patient acceptance. Patients shall be accepted for treatment on the basis of a reasonable expectation that the patient's medical, nursing and social needs can be met adequately by the agency in the patient's place of residence. Patient care shall follow a written plan of treatment established and periodically reviewed by the attending physician, and patient care shall continue under the supervision of the attending physician.(b)Plan of treatment. The plan of treatment shall be developed in consultation with the agency staff and shall cover pertinent diagnoses, including mental status, types of services and equipment required, frequency of visits, prognosis, rehabilitation potential, functional limitations, activities permitted, nutritional requirements, medications and treatments, safety measures to protect against injury, instructions for timely discharge or referral and other appropriate items. If an attending physician refers a patient under a plan of treatment which cannot be completed until after an evaluation visit, the attending physician shall be consulted to approve additions or modifications to the original plan. Orders for therapy services shall include the specific procedures and modalities to be used and the amount, frequency and duration of the procedures and modalities. The therapist and other agency personnel shall participate in developing the plan of treatment.(c)Periodic review of plan of treatment. The total plan of treatment shall be reviewed by the attending physician and home health care agency personnel as often as the severity of the patient's condition requires, but at least once every 60 days. Agency professional staff shall promptly alert the physician to changes that suggest a need to alter the plan of treatment.(d)Conformance with physician's orders. Prescriptions and nonprescription (over-the-counter) drugs, devices, medications and treatments, shall be administered by agency staff in accordance with the written orders of the physician. Prescription drugs and devices shall be prescribed by a licensed physician. Only licensed pharmacists shall dispense drugs and devices. Licensed physicians may dispense drugs and devices to the patients who are in their care. The licensed nurse or other individual, who is authorized by appropriate statutes and the State Boards in the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, shall immediately record and sign oral orders and obtain the physician's countersignature within 7 days. Agency staff shall check medicines a patient may be taking to identify possibly ineffective drug therapy or adverse reactions, significant side effects, drug allergies, and contraindicated medication, and shall promptly report problems to the physician.The provisions of this §601.31 corrected February 13, 1987, effective 4/23/1987, 17 Pa.B. 718. This section cited in 28 Pa. Code § 601.36 (relating to clinical records); and 49 Pa. Code §42.25 (relating to orders).