C.M.R. 10, 144, ch. 119, 6

Current through 2024-51, December 18, 2024

Chapter 6 - QUALIFICATIONS FOR HOME HEALTH PARAPROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL

6.A. Qualifications for Home Health Care Paraprofessional Personnel

6.A.1. Paraprofessional personnel for the purpose of these regulations, are home health aides and/or certified nursing assistants who are listed on the Maine Registry of Certified Nursing Assistants. The Home Health Care Services Provider must have proof that the home health aide and/or certified nursing assistant is on the Registry prior to hiring.

6.A.2. In addition to basic certified nursing assistant training and orientation, the home health aide and/or certified nursing assistant shall receive on-the-job instruction and at least twelve (12) hours of inservice training on an annual basis. Home Health Care Services Providers may fulfill the annual twelve (12) hour inservice training requirement on a prorated basis for the home health aide and/or certified nursing assistant's first year of employment and on a calendar year basis thereafter. Documentation of on the job instruction may be applied to the twelve (12) hours of inservice training.

6.A.3. A home health aide orientation program shall be taught by a registered professional nurse. Physicians, dietitians, physical therapists, medical social workers and other health personnel may be involved in appropriate aspects of the orientation program.

6.A.4. The home health aide orientation program shall consist of at least the following components:

a. An introductory section of the program which will define the functions and responsibilities of a home health aide as a member of the multi-disciplinary teams for a Home Health Care Services Provider.

b. Information about:

1. Nursing policies and procedures of the Home Health Care Services Provider,

2. Employment practices of the Home Health Care Services Provider,

3. The importance of developing an appropriate relationship between the Home Health Care Services Provider and the patient/client. This section shall discuss patient/client employee confidentiality and ethics issues and issues related to the medical and social needs of patients/clients being provided home haft care services.

4. Universal Precautions: The Home Health Care Services Provider shall have documentation of Universal Precautions.

6.B. Duties of Home Health Paraprofessional Personnel

Duties of home health aides and certified nursing assistants shall be assigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Maine State Board of Nursing, Chapter 5, Section 1.A.1. , and may include, but shall not be limited, to the following:

6.B.1. Helping patient/client with bath, care of mouth, skin, hair,

6.B.2. Helping patient/client in and out of bed and assisting with ambulation;

6.B.3. Helping with health care treatment as determined in patient's/client's plan of care;

6.B.4. Preparing meals and helping patient/client with eating;

6.B.5. Helping patient/client to bathroom or with use of bedpan;

6.B.6. Performing household services which support the patient's/client's self-care program at home to prevent or postpone institutionalization,

6.B.7. Reporting changes in the patient's/client's condition and needs and assisting in emergency situations; and

6.B.8. Completing appropriate records and signing full name, title and date.

6.C. Paraprofessional Staff Hiring

6.C.1. Prior to hiring a certified nursing assistant or home health aide, the home health agency must:

a. Obtain criminal history information; and

b. Verify with the Maine Registry of Certified Nursing Assistants that the individual is listed on the Registry.

6.C.2. The agency may not employ an individual who:

a. Has been found by the State Survey Agency to have abused, neglected or misappropriated the property of an individual, corporation or entity in a health care setting, and annotated on the Maine Registry of Certified Nursing Assistants; or

b. Has been convicted in a court of law of a crime involving abuse, neglect or misappropriation of the property of an individual, corporation or entity in a health care setting, or

c. Has a prior criminal conviction within the last ten (10) years of:

(1) A crime for which incarceration of three (3) years or more may be imposed under the laws of the State in which the conviction occurred; or

(2) A crime for which incarceration of less than three (3) years may be imposed under the laws of the State in which the conviction occurred involving sexual misconduct or involving abuse, neglect, or exploitation in a setting other than a health care setting.

C.M.R. 10, 144, ch. 119, 6