HH Nurses HELP! / Supply Dilema

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

I've been doing HH for two months and work for a small company (8 nurses), I'm realize now that while on orientation I missed ALOT. The nurses that I rode with told me about charting and I went with on admissions, recerts and stuff but never said anything about chargiing supplies, filling out info for the 485 and other important stuff. We would go into the office, get in the supply closet grabbed what we needed and go. I found out I was supposed to be charging all my supplies either to my trunk or the patient. I was able to go back and charge everything because I've kept a list of everyone that I've seen, the date, and what I did. The problem is the supply closet. This is the problem as I see it and need to know how you handle the issue of supplies.

Were always out of stuff. There is no where to write down what you took and if we need to order more. Shouldn't there be a list where you write down what you took? A list for what needs to be re-ordered? I am going to institue some sort of system for supply management. Any suggestions greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[AnnemRN]

Absolutely! You need to keep track of your supplies. We use a supply list that already has the most used items listed and a blank space to write in # used/needed. It has patients name ,medical record # and clinicians name and date. It also has a space for what date it is being used, and a few blank spaces at the bottom for write-ins. Also has a space for Insurance type, and if it was from car stock.

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

Absolutely! You need to keep track of your supplies. We use a supply list that already has the most used items listed and a blank space to write in # used/needed. It has patients name ,medical record # and clinicians name and date. It also has a space for what date it is being used, and a few blank spaces at the bottom for write-ins. Also has a space for Insurance type, and if it was from car stock.

God Bless you for answering! I am going to come up with a system for us and could use as much info as possible. I discussed this with the director today and she was thrilled that somebody was doing something. She is totally overload. OMG, I'd never have her job.

[renerian, BSN, RN]

First off who is ordering supplies? Did you talk with them? I always called if I had a case that required supplies if I needed alot of something to give the person ordering a heads up such as : " I opened two bid dressing cases today " blah blah blah. I assume you document on your nurses note what you are delivering to the home? Then when the biller and whomever checks the note for billing validation, they will see supplies used on your notes.

Thirdly, yes I have always had to sign things out. Sometimes on an elaborate form, sometimes on notebook paper. I think the key way to track supplies is to have one or two designated people with keys and everyone goes to those people, a supply guru so to speak or you will be out of supplies alot.

renerian

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

We keep NO stock in the office.

Every nurse gets her own supply box. We have DME company (Sterling-dedicated line for our agency) that we order our Medicare patients supplies. If we use something from our box, we just phone order in and asked to have it shipped to either office/our home for bag restock including gloves/hand sanitiser. Agency has specific wound formulary that we utilize. Product requested not on formulary requires managers approval.

This system puts the onus on each employee to order individual patient supplies timely, maintain own supplies and minimizes unaccounted cost.

Prior to this we did have form that staff checked off supply amounts, filled out demographic and insurance info to document charges. Current system 100% improvement---except for that holiday weekend discharge.

[SWRN84]

We have a supply closet in our office. One person is responsible for ordering, stocking, organizing the supplies. We have a clipboard next to the closet, and if things are getting low, or if you use the last of a supply, we put it on the list. Our supplies get ordered a couple of times per week. When we see patients, we have to account for each patient on our daily itinerary. We have supply charge sheets, and if you use anything or draw blood/blood sugar check, all those things get charged out to the patient as they are seen. If we don't fill out a supply sheet for each patient on our itinerary, the clerical staff give it back to us to complete either a supply charge, or to state "no supplies used for...."

I worked for another agency (actually worked through Favorite Nurses) . They did not have a supply closet that was accessble by the nurses. If you needed bag stock, you would fill out a request, or if you needed certain supplies for a patient, you filled out a request. They had a special cabinet for supply requests. Within 24 hours your supplies were there, bagged and tagged with patients names, or your name if it was for bag stock.

[CardioTrans, BSN, RN]

We do what Karens agency does. Same company and everything. We keep a minimal amt of supplies in the office and one person in the office has a key. So if something comes out of the closet she gets it, then we phone Sterling from the pt home and have it charged to the pt, and replaced to the office.

On the weekend, the weekend nurse knows where the key is, and turns in a slip to the person dedicated in the office.

I love Sterling. I can call them from my home and restock my bag or carbox. And from the pt home directly. The supplies are drop shipped directly to the pt home. If we order by 2pm, it is at the pt home the next day.

Granted Im now only doing home health prn, its still great.