PATIENT EDUCATION PROCESS

 To provide guidelines for giving specific instruction and information to patients and family/caregivers regarding home health services PURPOSE

Patients and family/caregivers will receive education in verbal, visual, and written format, as appropriate. The scope of teaching will be determined by the assessed needs, abilities, learning preferences, and readiness to learn, as well as by the plan of care. Education will be the responsibility of each clinical care member and will focus on, as appropriate the following: POLICY

 Facilitating the patient’s and family/caregiver’s understanding of current health status, options, and consequences of options  Encouraging patient participation in decision-making process/options  Increasing patient and family/caregiver potential to follow plan of care  Maximizing care skills of the patient and family/caregiver  Increasing ability to cope with health status, prognosis and outcomes  Enhancing the role in continuing care  Promoting a healthy lifestyle  Maintaining health status  Pain and symptom management PATIENT EDUCATION GIVEN BY EACH IDT MEMBER – FOCUSING ON:

 Atmosphere conducive for learning  Pertinent information in rendering care  Knowledge level in relation to diagnosis, plan of care, lifestyle changes  Ability and readiness to learn  Cultural and religious practices that might affect learning  Emotional barriers  Desire and motivation to learn  Physical and/or cognitive limitations (communication barriers to learning) COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT – INCLUDED IN PLAN OF CARE

 Description in the EMR as to what was taught (also document if a pre-printed handout was given)  Patient care/giver response (include level of understanding) and ability to give return demonstration  Describe any additional learned needs not met  Future teaching plans for subsequent visits (such as new prescribed medications, etc.) DOCUMENTATION OF PATIENT EDUCATION WILL CONSIST OF:

 As appropriate to the plan of care  At clinical care case conference, patient education and learning needs/processes will be discussed by ALL clinicians involved in care  Individual needs and learning styles will be identified and appropriate methods and resources made available EDUCATION GIVEN NEEDS TO BE IDT DRIVEN AND INTERACTIVE