| Activities
Coordinator, Qualified: |
 |
An individual who is licensed or registered, if applicable, in the state in
which he or she practices as a Therapeutic Recreation Therapist or as an
activities professional and is eligible for certification as such by a
recognized accrediting body; or an individual who has had at least two years of
experience in a social or recreational program within the past five years, one
year of which was full time in a patient activities program in a health care
setting; or an individual who is a qualified Occupational Therapist or
Occupational Therapy Assistant, or an individual who has the documented
equivalent education, training or experience.
|
| Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS): |
|
A program developed for health care personnel that is designed to educate and
train the participant in life saving techniques including CPR, cardiac rhythm
interpretation, and securing an airway.
|
| Art therapy: |
|
The use of art and artistic processes specifically selected and administered by
a qualified art therapist to restore, maintain, or improve an individual’s
mental, emotional or social functioning.
|
| Board Certified Physiatrist: |
|
A physician specialized in rehabilitation medicine and certified by the
American Medical Association.
|
| Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA): |
|
Person who assists in providing daily nursing care to residents/patients in
accordance with the resident’s/patient’s plan of care under the supervision of
a licensed professional Nurse. This person has successfully completed a state
approved training program and passed a competency evaluation test that entitles
him/her to certification.
|
| Clinical Respiratory
Services: |
|
Services that provide goal-directed, purposeful activity to patients with
disorders of the cardiopulmonary system. Such services include diagnostic
testing, therapeutics, monitoring education and rehabilitation. These services
are provided by a qualified respiratory care practitioner or other health care
professionals who have the documented equivalent in education, training, and/or
experience and who meet any current legal requirements of licensure or
registration. These services may be provided directly or through contract with
another organization or individual.
|
| Continuous Telemetry Monitoring: |
|
Cardiac rhythm monitoring that is wireless, portable and uninterrupted. Allows
assessment of a patient's cardiac rhythm during activities of daily living
including ambulation, exercise, eating, bathing and sleeping.
|
| Dentist: |
|
An individual who has received the degree of either doctor of dental surgery or
doctor of dental medicine and who is licensed to practice dentistry.
|
| Dietetic Services: |
|
The delivery of care pertaining to the provision of optimal nutrition and
quality food service for individuals.
|
| Dietitian, Qualified: |
|
An individual who is registered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration or
the American Dietetic Association, or who has the documented equivalent in
education, training and experience, with evidence of relevant continuing
education.
|
| Hydrotherapy: |
|
The use of water related therapy in the rehabilitative care of patients
including aquatic exercise and whirlpool therapy.
|
| Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN): |
|
A Nurse who has completed a practical nursing program and is licensed by a
state to provide routine patient care under the direction of Registered Nurse
or a Physician. Referred to as Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) in California
and Texas.
|
| Long-Term Care: |
|
The health and personal care services provided to chronically ill, aged,
disabled or retarded persons in an institution or in the place of residence.
These persons are not in an acute phase of illness, but require convalescent,
physical supportive, and/or restorative services on a long-term basis.
|
| Medical Director: |
|
The licensed, credentialed physician designated to supervise and coordinate a
specific clinical program in the skilled nursing facility, i.e.. subacute care,
orthopedic, and cardiac rehabilitation.
|
| Music Therapy: |
|
The use of musical or rhythmic interventions specifically selected by a Music
Therapist to restore, maintain or improve the social or emotional functioning,
mental processing or physical health of individuals.
|
| Nursing: |
|
The health profession dealing with nursing care and services as defined in
relevant state, commonwealth, or territory nurse practice acts and other
applicable laws and regulations, and as permitted by a health care organization
in accordance with these definitions.
|
| Nursing Care: |
|
Professional processes intended to assist an individual in the performance of
those activities contributing to health or its recovery (or to a peaceful
death) that he or she would perform unaided if he or she had the necessary
strength, will or knowledge. This includes, but is not limited to, assisting
individuals in carrying out therapeutic plans and understanding the health
needs of individuals.
|
| Nursing Home: |
|
A non-hospital health care organization with inpatient beds and an organized
professional staff that provides continuous nursing and other health-related,
psychosocial and personal services to patients who are not in an acute phase if
illness, but who require continued care on an inpatient basis.
|
| Nursing Services: |
|
Services provided to patients by an individual who is qualified by an approved
postsecondary program or baccalaureate or certified by the state to practice
nursing. These services may be provided directly or through contract with
another organization or individual.
|
| Nursing Staff: |
|
Registered nurses, Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurses, Nursing Assistants
and other nursing staff who perform nursing care in a health care organization.
|
| Occupational Therapist Assistant,
Qualified: |
|
An individual who is a graduate of an occupational therapy assistant program
accredited by a nationally recognized accreditation body; is currently
certified as an Occupational Therapy Assistant by the American Occupational
Therapy Certification Board; meets any current legal requirements of state
licensure or registration; or has the documented equivalence in education,
training, and experience; and is competent in the field. For purposes of Joint
Commission Medicare surveys, Occupational Therapy Assistants meet the personnel
requirements as outlined in the Medicare regulations for home health agencies.
|
| Occupational Therapist, Qualified: |
|
An individual who is a graduate of an occupational therapy program accredited
by a nationally recognized accreditation body; is initially certified as an
Occupational Therapist by a nationally recognized certification body; meets any
current legal requirements of state licensure or registration or has the
documented equivalence in education, training, and experience; and is currently
competent in the field. For purposes of Joint Commission Medicare surveys,
Occupational Therapists meet the personnel requirements as outlined in the
Medicare regulations for home health agencies.
|
| Occupational Therapist, Qualified,
Certified: |
|
An individual who is a graduate of an occupational therapy program accredited
by a nationally recognized accrediting body; is currently certified as an
Occupational Therapist by the American Occupational Therapy Certification
Board; meets any current legal requirements of licensure or registration or has
the documented equivalent in education, training, and experience; and is
currently competent in the field.
|
| Occupational Therapy
Services: |
|
Services that provide for goal-directed, purposeful activity to evaluate
assess, or treat persons whose function is impaired by physical illness or
injury, emotional disorder, congenital or developmental disability, or the
aging process. Such therapy is designed to achieve optimal functioning to
prevent disability, and to maintain health. These services are provided by a
qualified occupational therapist, by a qualified occupational therapy assistant
supervised by an individual who has the documented equivalent education,
training, and experience and who meets any current legal requirements of
licensure or registration. These services may be provided directly or through
contract with another organization or individual.
|
| Pharmaceutical Services: |
|
Services provided directly or through contract with another organization that
procure, prepare, preserve, compound, dispense, or distribute pharmaceutical
products and monitor the patient’s clinical status.
|
| Pharmacist: |
|
An individual who has a degree in pharmacy and is licensed and registered to
prepare, preserve, compound and dispense drugs and chemicals.
|
| Physical Therapist Assistant,
Qualified: |
|
An individual who is educated specifically to work under the direction and
supervision of the Physical Therapist in the delivery of physical therapy
services; who is a gradate of Physical Therapist Assistant associate degree
program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy
Education, a nationally recognized accreditation body, or has the documented
equivalence in training, education and experience; who meets any current legal
requirements of licensure or registration; and who is currently competent in
the field. For purposes of Joint Commission Medicare surveys, Physical Therapy
Assistants meet the personnel requirements as outlined in the medicate
regulations for home health agencies.
|
| Physical Therapist, Qualified: |
|
An individual who is a graduate of a Physical Therapist education program
accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body; who meets any current
legal requirements of licensure or registration or who has the documented
equivalence in training, education, and experience; and is currently competent
in the field. Physical Therapists assess, evaluate and treat movement
dysfunction and pain resulting from injury, disease, disability or other
health- related conditions. For purposes of Joint Commission Medicare surveys,
Physical Therapists meet the personnel requirements outlined in the Medicare
regulation for home health agencies.
|
| Physical Therapy Aide: |
|
An individual who is trained on the job to provide support services for the
Physical Therapy department under the direction and supervision of a Physical
Therapist. Direct patient services performed by Aides may include
transportation, assistance of other Physical Therapy staff with dependent
patients, and other activities as delegated by the Physical Therapist. Routine
duties of the Physical Therapy Aide include equipment management, preparation
and cleaning of treatment areas, and supply inventory.
|
| Physical Therapy Services: |
|
The health care field concerned primarily with the treatment of disorders with
physical agents and methods such as massage, manipulation, therapeutic excises,
cold, heat (including shortwave, microwave, and ultrasonic diathermy),
hydrotherapy, electric stimulation, and light to assist in rehabilitating
individuals and in restoring normal function after all illness or injury.
|
| Physician, Qualified: |
|
A Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy who, by virtue of education,
training and demonstrated competence, is granted clinical privileges by the
organization to perform specific diagnostic or therapeutic procedure(s) and who
is fully licensed to practice medicine.
|
| Podiatrist: |
|
An individual who has received the degree of Doctor of Podiatry Medicine and
who is licensed to practice podiatry.
|
| Psychiatrist, Qualified: |
|
A Physician who specializes in assessing and treating persons having
psychiatric disorders; is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and
Neurology or has the documented equivalent in education, training or
experience; and is fully licensed to practice medicine in the state in which he
or she practices.
|
| Psychologist, Qualified: |
|
An individual who specialized in psychological research, testing or therapy.
|
| Registered Dietitian: |
|
As defined by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the credentialing agent
of the American Dietetic Association, an individual who completed the minimum
of a baccalaureate degree granted by a U.S. regionally accredited college or
university; meets current academic requirements (Didactic Program in Dietetics)
as approved by the American Dietetic Association; completed pre-professional
experience accredited or approved by the American Dietetic Association;
successfully completed the Registration Examination for Dietitians; and accrues
75 hours of approved continuing education every five years.
|
| Registered Nurse: |
|
An individual who is qualified by an approved postsecondary program or
baccalaureate or higher degree in Nursing and licensed by the state,
commonwealth or territory to practice professional Nursing.
|
| Rehabilitation Service: |
|
An organization service providing medical, health-related, social and
vocational services for disabled persons to help them attain or retain their
maximum functional capacity.
|
| Respiratory Care Services: |
|
Delivery of care to provide ventilatory support and associated services for
individuals.
|
| Respiratory Care Technician,
Certified: |
|
An individual who is certified by the National Board for Respiratory Care after
successfully completing all education, experience and examination requirements.
|
| Respiratory Therapist: |
|
An individual who has successfully completed a training program accredited by
the American Medical Association Committee on Allied Health Education and
Accreditation in collaboration with the Joint Review Committee for Respiratory
Therapy Education and is eligible to take the registry examination administered
by the National Board for Respiratory Care or has the documented equivalent in
training or experience.
|
| Respiratory Therapy Technician: |
|
An individual who has successfully completed a training program accredited by
the American Medical Association Committee on Allied Health Education and
Accreditation in collaboration with the Joint Review Committee for Respiratory
Therapy Education and is eligible to take the certification examination
administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care or has the documented
equivalent in training or experience.
|
| Social Work Assistant: |
|
An individual with a bachelor’s degree, preferably with a social work sequence,
who is given training on the job for specific assignments and responsibilities
in the provision of social work services or who has the documented equivalent
in education, training, or experience. For purposes of Joint Commission
Medicare surveys, social work assistants meet the personnel requirements
outlined in the Medicare regulations for home health agencies.
|
| Social Work Services: |
|
Services to assist individuals and their families in addressing social,
emotional, and economic stresses associated with illness or injury. Such
services are provided by a qualified social worker or a social work assistant
under the supervision of a qualified social worker. These services may be
provided directly or through contract with another organization or individual.
|
| Social Worker, Qualified: |
|
An individual who either has met the requirements of a graduate curriculum
(leading to master’s degree) in a school of Social Work that is accredited by
the Council on Social Work Education or has the documented equivalent in
education, training, or experience. For purposes of Joint Commission Medicare
surveys, Social Workers meet the personnel requirements outlined in the
Medicare regulations for home health agencies.
|
| Speech-Language Pathologist,
Qualified: |
|
An individual who holds either a master’s or doctoral degree; the Certificate
of Clinical Competence (CCC) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing
Association (ASHA); or has the documented equivalent education, training. Or
experience, and, where applicable, state licensure.
|
| Subacute Care: |
|
Care that is rendered immediately after, or instead of, acute hospitalization
to treat one or more specific, active complex medical conditions or to
administer one or more technically complex treatments in the context of an
individual’s underlying long-term conditions and overall situation. Subacute
care requires the coordinated services of an interdisciplinary team. It is
given as part of a specifically defined program regardless of the site.
|
