Axxess’ Training and Certification+ Personal and Professional Safety is a multi-course program designed to enhance the safety of care in the home.
Christina Andrews, Senior Director of Professional Services at Axxess, spoke with Arlene Maxim, RN, HCS-C, Senior Vice President of Clinical Services at Axxess, about the value of the course to the care at home industry and changes organizations should make to their policies and procedures to ensure safety for patients and staff.
Maxim talked about an incident in Connecticut where a visiting nurse was murdered , while caring for a patient in his home.
“Oftentimes patients have mental health issues that we have to deal with, but sometimes we forget about the family members and what’s going on in the homes,” said Maxim. “We have to make a complete change in the way we are looking at patients as we bring them in, including considering performing background checks on patients and considering the safety of the neighborhoods where staff will be working.”
“Some of the things that I think we have done really well in Training Certification+ is to lay a groundwork for the agency to start thinking about what changes they need to be making in their own organizations to comply with OSHA standards,” said Maxim.
Policy Intake: Reevaluate Your Process
Changes to policies and the intake process must be made to ensure the safety of staff.
“We have to make some decisions on whether or not [staff] need to take backup with them,” stressed Maxim.
Maxim noted the potential need for organizations to consider turning down patients in certain circumstances for the sake of staff safety.
Execution: Proper Orientation and Ongoing Training
Maxim expressed the importance of proper orientation and ongoing training, stating, “The reason [staff] leave home care and hospice is because they are confused and they don’t understand. They did not have a proper orientation. They did not have proper ongoing training.”
Up-to-date training can help ensure staff safety and confidence.
“Our training and certification process is an entire library of information that includes issues related to staff safety,” Maxim explained. “If this training is used during orientation, it allows clinicians to feel confident when they walk into these homes.”
Andrews encouraged organizations to explore the Training and Certification+ program, noting its benefits for both staff and patients.
“We have streamlined and operationalized robust content to ensure staff feel competent,” said Andrews. “That will lead into the confidence of their safety while in the home.”
Anyone can create an Axxess Training and Certification Program+ account, giving them access to all certifications, continuing education and training courses across service lines. Together we will elevate care at home.
