HELP 485 concerns

[cyclones1221]

I am new to Home Health nursing. I am still learning the regulation for HHC. If our agency uses electronic medical records and the 485 is printed before sent to the physician for signature is the RN required to sign the 485? Does it have to be the RN that charts it in the Electronic Medical Record? If it is stated in the regulations could you please site it for me. I was informed that the DON can sign it when completed and then send it out. I would think the RN that does the POC should sign it. HELP!!!!!

Thank you very much for all your input

[anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP]

I can't really site anything but I know at my HH office ideally the nurse who did the eval would sign the 485. If they (for some reason) were unable to the primary nurse would.

In case this doesn't make sense: In my office we had 2-3 nurses who primarily did evaluations then another 8-10 nurses who were "primary" nurses assigned to different areas.

I do know it has to be a RN per Medicare....

[cyclones1221]

I was confused I guess it is different than the hospital. Whatever the nurse assesses she is responsible for signing. Our DON signs all of them. It just seems strange to me to do an eval and not put my signature to it. Thank you so very much for the quick response.