Tools

A survey designed by the United Hospital Fund to help home care staff evaluate and improve how well they work with family caregivers in planning transitions. A companion survey for family caregivers is also available.  (The United Hospital Fund is not responsible for information or advice provided by others, including information on websites that link to Next Step in Care. Please direct any questions to nextstepincare@uhfnyc.org.)

A tool to assist home health aides in implementing key strategies to help patients avoid hospitalizations.

An assessment tool to measure nurse manager competencies in 5 domains: Leadership, Problem Solving, Planning & Organization, Coaching, and Aligning Performance for Success.  The tool was developed as part of a larger initiative within the Visiting Nurse Service of New York to redesign the nurse manager role.

The scoring instructions for an assessment tool to measure nurse manager competencies in 5 domains: Leadership, Problem Solving, Planning & Organization, Coaching, and Aligning Performance for Success.  The tool was developed as part of a larger initiative within the Visiting Nurse Service of New York to redesign the nurse manager role.

This checklist identifies key areas for pandemic influenza planning. Home health agencies can use it to identify the strengths and weaknesses of current planning efforts. Links to websites with more information are provided throughout.

"Try This" issue that describes the Home Safety Inventory (HSI) - a tool that provides a list of potential safety problems to review with individuals and caregivers. Completing the HSI with caregivers can help identify potential risks and educate them on preventative measures.  Published by the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing.

This is an evidence-based, technology-enabled intervention that addresses medication safety among older adults by connecting homecare and other community-based services to health care providers. The MMIS is now known as HomeMeds and is a licensed intervention, click here to learn more.

 

 

Reviews

June 10, 2009

The evidence-based Medication Management Improvement System (MMIS) is designed to enable home care agencies to address medication-related problems and prevent errors so prevalent in elders living at home. MMIS uses consensus-based criteria and screening algorithms to help home care agencies prevent falls, dizziness, confusion, and other medication-related problems in their patients. Home care teams use software and a pharmacist consultant to screen their patients’ medications for potentially harmful problems and bring these problems to the attention of their physicians. The comprehensive MMIS HomeMeds.org website provides toolkits with the materials an agency needs to get started implementing the model. These materials will be updated periodically.

-- Dennee Frey, PharmD, CHAMP Faculty

A screening tool to help identify home care patients at risk for hospitalization.

Reviews

September 14, 2012

I really like this tool. It is another piece of paper to complete but gives staff insight as to frequency of visits needed, as well as ancillary services. Helpful when completed by admitting clinician.

-Wendy

A two-page tip sheet from the American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging with hot weather safety tips for older adults.

Reviews

September 06, 2012

Good quick reference for older patienys

-Dorothy Wolff

August 31, 2012

The print is large enough for the elderly and the font type is clear

-Marcia

August 15, 2012

I am a nurse working in home health. I found the tips helpful and complete. This information is very useful, though I believe some patients would require explanation and assistance reading the tips, due to the degree of detail and small print.

-Joan Warren

August 10, 2012

Well hard as it is for me to admit, I am a senior, all be a working full time one with 31 years in home health care. Last week I and my husband had a home work vaca and I got ill from being exposed to the extreme heat. Gratefully not ED necessary but it took me 2 days to get over the nausea and weakness and I was hydrating and sunblocking and covered up...but doing stenuous work. Had I read the tips prior I would have not been so foolish. I have printed them and sharing with staff. Thank you Smarter in CT Mary

-mary mitchell

A photo-illustrated, multi-hazard checklist designed for use by home health aides to conduct visual safety inspections in patients' homes.  The survey tool was part of a training program designed by Dr. Robyn Gershon, a professor in the Division of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the University of California San Francisco.

Reviews

September 11, 2012

Hi Brenda. Thanks for your comments. The "goody bag" was part of a pilot study by Dr Gershon to test the tool in patient households. Sorry, CHAMP doesn't provide any. ;)

-Amy McGuire, CHAMP Liaison

September 11, 2012

The photos were great. Looks like a great tool, but what is the "goody bag"?

-Brenda

September 07, 2012

Loved the photos. Long but gets the point across.

-Lorraine

September 06, 2012

Very long and complex for our patients

-Dorothy Wolff