Involve registrars in advanced directives
Follow-up is a 'risk point'
Members of the patient access staff at Catholic Health Initiatives Nebraska now play a role in complying with The Joint Commission's requirement that patients be offered educational materials on advanced directives when they are admitted, says Lauree M. Miller, director of patient access.
"In some hospitals, it falls on the clinical staff to do this," says Miller. "With our new process, patient access starts the ball rolling to find out if the patient has this or not."
While many registration areas are involved in the advanced directives requirement, there must be a process in place to ensure that the clinical side follows through as needed, cautions John Wallin, RN, associate director of standards interpretation at the Joint Commission. "That is a risk point," he says. "If the patient says, 'I don't have one, but I'd be interested in finding out more,' or if the patient has one but doesn't have a copy with them, that is one area where we see inconsistencies in the process."
If the patient has the directive with them, registrars at Catholic Health Initiatives Nebraska scan it into the system so it becomes a permanent part of the patient's medical record, Miller says, and it can be pulled up during future visits. If the patient didn't bring a copy of the advanced directive with them, clinical staff members are informed of this issue and follow up with the patient.
Registrars ask patients to identify a surrogate decision maker at the time of registration by asking patients, "Who would be your decision maker today if you were unable to make decisions for yourself?"
"This carries through to the clinical staff," says Miller. "It helps the patient understand that we are coordinating their care. Patient access can start the process, and clinical staff can validate it."
Members of the patient access staff at Catholic Health Initiatives Nebraska now play a role in complying with The Joint Commission's requirement that patients be offered educational materials on advanced directives when they are admitted, says Lauree M. Miller, director of patient access.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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