REVISION NOTICE - Home Care Information Network

Division 4 Provision and Coordination of Treatment and Services
§97.281 Client Care Policies
Minimum Standards for All HCSS Agencies
An agency must adopt and enforce a written policy that specifies the agency's client care practices. The
written policy must include the following elements if covered under the scope of services provided by
the agency:
(1) initial assessment, reassessment;
(2) start of care, transfer, and discharge;
(3) intravenous services;
(4) care of the pediatric client;
(5) triaging clients in the event of disaster;
(6) how to handle emergencies in the home;
(7) safety of staff;
(8) procedures the staff will perform for clients, such as dressing changes, Foley catheter changes,
wound irrigation, administration of medication;
(9) psychiatric nursing procedures;
(10) patient and caregiver teaching relating to disease process/procedures;
(11) care planning;
(12) care of the dying patient/client;
(13) receiving physician orders;
(14) performing waived testing;
(15) medication monitoring; and
(16) anything else pertaining to client care.
§97.282 Client Conduct and Responsibility and Client Rights
(a) An agency must adopt and enforce a written policy governing client conduct and responsibility
and client rights in accordance with this section. The written policy must include a grievance
mechanism under which a client can participate without fear of reprisal.
(b) An agency must protect and promote the client's rights.
(c) An agency must comply with the provisions of the Human Resources Code, Chapter 102,
concerning the rights of the elderly.
(d) At the time of admission, an agency must provide each person who receives licensed home health
services, licensed and certified home health services, hospice services, or personal assistance
services with a written statement that informs the client that a complaint against the agency may
be directed to the Department of Aging and Disability Services, DADS' Consumer Rights and
Services Division, P.O. Box 149030, Austin, Texas 78714-9030, toll free 1-800-458-9858. The
statement also may inform the client that a complaint against the agency may be directed to the
administrator of the agency. The statement about complaints directed to the administrator also
must include the time frame in which the agency will review and resolve the complaint.
DADS / LSHCSSA 06-1 SUBCHAPTER C - 17