As a home health therapist, I’ve learned that providing care in the winter comes with unique challenges. Ensuring patient safety, as well as your own, requires careful planning and adaptability. Here are five key steps I take to navigate these situations effectively.
1. Adjusting Visits Based on Agency Guidelines
Keep close communication with your home health agency. If the agency decides to close due to hazardous weather conditions, immediately begin canceling or rescheduling visits. Patient care is important; however, safety must come first for both me and my patients.
2. Check On Patients’ Safety Plans
Before the storm hits, contact the patients on your caseload to ensure they have a safety plan. This includes verifying that they have adequate food, water, medications, and a way to stay warm if there are power outages.
3. Prepare Car and Supplies
Driving in snowy or icy conditions can be treacherous, so take extra steps to prepare your car. Ensure your vehicle is well-maintained, the gas tank is full, and you have emergency supplies (e.g., blankets, a flashlight, and a first-aid kit).
4. Communication With the Home Health Agency
Throughout the storm, keep open communication with your agency. Let them know when you have made it home safely or if unable to complete a visit.
5. Monitoring Weather Updates
Constantly checking weather updates is crucial during a storm. If conditions become too dangerous, I prioritize safety and stay home.
Winter storms may disrupt routines, but with preparation and clear communication, you can ensure you and your patients remain safe. If you work in home health, what steps do you take during severe weather?
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