ALF

Our local ALF would not accept our patient because he has a foley catheter. Is this the norm?

We demand that they come up with a diagnosis for it if they really want to keep it in- otherwise we just have to take it out when they arrive anyway.

If you have no idea why they have one, I probably wouldn't let you get away with dumping them on me, no questions asked, either.

It can be. ALFs often have varying rules from one facility to another, and depending on their access to a nurse they may not be able to care for a foley (they often require weekly bag changes, and monthly or bimonthly catheter changes. There may also be concern about liability with infection.

We accept foleys in our facility. We have home health come in to replace the foley monthly and they come if there is a problem with the foley other wise we are the ones who empty the bag and switch from leg bag to night and visa versa. Not all ALF's are the same.

We demand that they come up with a diagnosis for it if they really want to keep it in- otherwise we just have to take it out when they arrive anyway.

If you have no idea why they have one, I probably wouldn't let you get away with dumping them on me, no questions asked, either. [/QUOT

He's my patient on Hospice, foley is there for comfort. He is to spend 10 days there for the wife to take a trip. They accepted him for a weeks stay a few months ago but he did not have the foley at that time.

We accept foleys in our facility. We have home health come in to replace the foley monthly and they come if there is a problem with the foley other wise we are the ones who empty the bag and switch from leg bag to night and visa versa. Not all ALF's are the same.

That's the thing, I would take care of it and even see him daily if that's what they want. We are in charge of replacing it. This patient does not switch to a leg bag he keeps it to the big bag all day, so there is no switching.

It can be. ALFs often have varying rules from one facility to another, and depending on their access to a nurse they may not be able to care for a foley (they often require weekly bag changes, and monthly or bimonthly catheter changes. There may also be concern about liability with infection.

He's a hospice patient so they would have access to us, 24/7.

Since he's on Hospice, the Hospice should provide personnel to change the catheter if it needs to be changed in the 10 days. I don't see why it should be a problem.

Isn't an "ALF" the short, long nosed alien on TV that ate cats in the earily 80s? Why would he care if a patient had a foley?