Supplies

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Nov 7, 2015

While many home health agencies provide supplies for clients as they have a DME/supply division not all do. Many that supply dressings and other supplies are hospital affiliated and therefore have a source as well as a means to bundle bill for supplies.

Post op a family member was sent home with initial supplies from the hospital. They inquired at two agencies for services. One provided supplies the other only provided skilled visits.

Jensmom7, BSN, RN · Nov 7, 2015

Also, if your mom has commercial insurance (as opposed to Medicare or Medicaid), sometimes the agency CAN'T provide supplies. They may have to come from the insurance company's contracted, in-network suppliers, and it would be up to the patient to obtain them and be responsible for any co-pays.

Idaho_nurse · Nov 8, 2015

My Agency provides what the client needs... even costly wound care supplies if needed. We have ordered colostomy supplies for clients even. There are very few things that we cannot order for a client, and if its a specific type of dressing and its way to expensive, we do often bill the insurance or will appeal to the prescribing MD about an alternative, but most things? no, we bring them out.

valk17 · Nov 8, 2015

With our agency, it depends on the patient's insurance whether or not we provide all supplies, although If I know there is wound care I ask when calling to set up the admission what the patient already has. If nothing, I usually bring a few days worth until the patient can order from a supplier such as edgepark. It might be less expensive if there will be long term wound care to look into one of the supply companies instead of the local drugstore.

muirite · Nov 10, 2015

Than you all. I did check and they were supposed to supply all the items that they needed. It is apart of the contract.

Now new question the nurse that came today said he needed to take photos of the wounds in order to provide services is this normal? She would not allow him to because it was no where written in the contract or any information from the surgeon, social worker, hospital or the contract they provided.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Nov 10, 2015

It's not uncommon to use photos to document a complicated wound. I've seen it most common in a setting where documenting skin upon admission and if sent out upon return. I've never heard it mandated to document with photos as part of a contract unless the wound was caused by or made worse by the neglect or inaction of another professional.

Why not ask the clinical supervisor? That info should have been provided as part of the admissions paperwork.

Out of curiosity how was he going to document? Cell phone? Company supplies camera ? I'd definitely decline with personal or even company cell phone as neither is secure

muirite · Nov 10, 2015

It was his personal cell phone. Which I thought to be strange. Also the NP from the surgeon service had seen her earlier in the day.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Nov 10, 2015

Call the office. Most companies prohibit the use of personal devices for patient documentation without additional security measures. Many use iPad or iPad mini issued by the company and enable camera capabilities. Also track every us end prohibit personal downloads.

PurpleDaisyðŸŒ¸ · Nov 11, 2015

At my agency, we are expected to use our personal cell phones for photo documentation of wounds. It makes me crazy. We are expected to take photos at every wound care visit. I sometimes "forget" to take them.

Jensmom7, BSN, RN · Nov 11, 2015

At my agency, we are expected to use our personal cell phones for photo documentation of wounds. It makes me crazy. We are expected to take photos at every wound care visit. I sometimes "forget" to take them.

Photos for wound documentation are a good idea, but don't expect me to just whip out my personal cell and do it.

Also, since many wounds don't show dramatic, if any, changes quickly, if you're doing a visit more than once a week it's a waste of time and effort to do measurements every visit.

Yes, document anything icky, or any changes, but weekly detailed documentation and measurements are only required once a week.

PurpleDaisyðŸŒ¸ · Nov 11, 2015

Photos for wound documentation are a good idea, but don't expect me to just whip out my personal cell and do it.
Also, since many wounds don't show dramatic, if any, changes quickly, if you're doing a visit more than once a week it's a waste of time and effort to do measurements every visit.
Yes, document anything icky, or any changes, but weekly detailed documentation and measurements are only required once a week.

I absolutely agree. It can be a difficult to navigate around agency culture and practices that do not have sound reasoning behind them, when you know you run the risk of coworker/supervisor backlash. I could write a whole post on that.