Emergency Care

Avenue Home Care staff will implement appropriate emergency actions for clients in a crisis situation.

To establish guidelines for actions to be taken by agency personnel in emergency situations.

1. Medical emergency/life threatening situations:

(a) Call the emergency rescue service (911) and follow the instructions of the dispatcher.
(b) Initiate CPR if instructed to do so.
(c) Stay with the client until the emergency rescue service arrives.
(d) Notify the Supervising Nurse.
(e) Document clearly and completely in the clinical record the circumstances of the emergency.

2. Non-life threatening medical emergencies for home care aide/companion:

(a) Contact the Supervising Nurse and report the situation. The Supervising Nurse will determine appropriate interventions for the situation and assist in implementing a plan of action.

3. Unexpected death of a client:

(a) Call 911.
(b) Initiate CPR if instructed to do so.
(c) Notify the Supervising Nurse.
(e) Notify the family if instructed to do so.
(f) Stay in attendance until the family, Supervising Nurse, physician, or police arrive.
(g) Do not disturb the body.
(h) If the client is receiving public welfare assistance and has no relatives, the caseworker shall be notified by the office staff/administration.

4. Inability to gain access to the client’s residence:

(a) Agency personnel who cannot gain access to the client’s residence (i.e., client does not answer the door or staff has reason to believe that the client may not be safe) must pursue all possible avenues for ascertaining the condition of the client.
(b) Notify the Supervising Nurse.
(c) Contact family members, friends, neighbors, or physician's office to attempt to ascertain status of the client.
(d) Contact the police department to gain access to the home if you continue to be unable or uncertain regarding the client's whereabouts or condition.

1. Medical emergency/life threatening situations:

(a) Call the emergency rescue service (911).
(b) Initiate CPR if appropriate.
(c) Stay with the client until the emergency rescue service arrives.
(d) Notify the Supervising Nurse.
(e) Document clearly and completely in the clinical record the circumstances of the emergency.

2. Unexpected death of a client:

(a) Call 911.
(b) Initiate CPR if appropriate.
(c) Notify the family.
(d) Notify the Supervising Nurse.
(e) Stay in attendance until the family, Supervising Nurse, physician or police arrive.
(f) Do not disturb the body.
(g) If the client is receiving public welfare assistance and has no relatives, the caseworker shall be notified by the office staff/administration.

3. Inability to gain access to the client's residence:

(a) Agency personnel who cannot gain access to the client's residence (i.e., client does not answer the door or staff has reason to believe that the client may not be safe) must pursue all possible avenues for ascertaining the condition of the client.
(b) Notify the Supervisor.
(c) Contact family members, friends, neighbors, or physician's office to attempt to ascertain status of the client.
(d) Contact the police department to gain access to the home if you continue to be unable or uncertain regarding the client's whereabouts or condition.