Employee Center
This area of the website provides information of use to Caregivers Network field staff and office personnel.
Minnesota Home Care Hotline
Do you know what the Minnesota Home Care Hotline is and where to find it?
It is a toll free number located on the back of the home care bill of rights. Clients and their families can call this number if they have an unresolved problem or complaint.
We strive to provide the best quality of care and ensure that all of our clients and their families are satisfied with our services. If a problem arises, it is our duty to assist in resolving it quickly, and in a professional manner.
We need to first ensure that the clients and their families are aware of the Minnesota home care hotline. Then we need to encourage clients to speak with the following staff, in this order, before calling the hotline:
• Nurse on duty providing care
• Clinical manager
• Client services manager
• Associate Director
If the client and their family are not satisfied after all of the above steps were taken to resolve the problem, employees may suggest they call the Minnesota Toll Free Hotline at 1-800-369-7994.
Handwashing Techniques
Handwashing is the most effective way to prevent spread of infection.
However, there are times when using hand sanitizer is appropriate.
Reasons to use hand sanitizer:
1. If you cannot step away from your client right away.
2. Keep hands from becoming dry and cracked, from frequent handwashing, which can lead to open areas and increase your risk of infection.
Steps for using hand sanitizer:
1. Apply about ½ tsp of the product to the palm of your hand.
2. Rub your hands together, covering all surfaces of your hands, until dry.
You should use soap and water:
• When your hands are visibly dirty
• After using the restroom or changing a diaper
• After petting animals or handling animal waste
• Before handling food or eating
• After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose
• Before treating a cut or wound
• After handling garbage
• upon arriving and before leaving the client’s home
Frequently Asked Questions About H1N1
How can I be exposed to or contact H1N1?
The H1N1 virus is easily spread in respiratory droplets when a person coughs or sneezes, or by touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing and decontaminating your hands after contact with contaminated items. You may have been exposed if you or a family member has:
been in close contact (within 6 feet) with a person with H1N1, or direct contact during bathing, dressing, taking a blood pressure, or transferring/lifting
had direct contact with any contaminated items, such as a bedside table or medical equipment, where a person who may have H1N1 has been
When is a person with H1N1 contagious?
The contagious period begins one day before symptoms begin and continues up to 7 days after the onset of symptoms or until symptoms are gone, whichever is longer. Persons are most contagious while fever is present.
What can I do to prevent contracting H1N1?
Follow standard precautions and hand hygiene practices. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth, and wash and decontaminate your hands often. Avoid close, unprotected contact with some who has the flu. Remind those who are sick to cover their mouth and nose when coughing with a tissue or sleeve, appropriately dispose of their tissue, and wash their hands immediately after they sneeze or use a tissue.
What should I do if I think I've been exposed to or contracted H1N1?
Contact your physician and immediately call your local Caregivers Network office. They will provide guidance to ensure your safety and that of your clients according to CDC guidelines and Bayada policy.
What if a member of my family has been exposed to our contracted H1N1?
Notify your local Caregivers Network office of the exposure. If you show no signs or symptoms of H1N1, you can continue with your regular work schedule. However, you must immediately notify your manager if you experience any symptoms.
Do I need to wear a N95 mask if my client or one of their household members has H1N1?
You must wear the mask Caregivers Network provides to you while working with clients who may have H1N1 during the time they are contagious. You must also wear the mask if your client's household member has H1N1 and is in an open area of the home where you will be within 6 feet of that person.
When can I return to work after being diagnosed with H1N1?
You can usually return to work 24 hours after you are fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medications. However, additional work restrictions may apply when caring for specific clients. Your office will make that determination with you based on your specific situation and the kind of client care provided to your clients.
Review of the Joint Commission 2009 Home Care National Patient Safety Goals
Goal 1: Identify patients correctly Use at least two ways to identify patients. For example, use the patient's name and date of birth. This is done to make sure that each patient gets the medicine and treatment meant for them.
Ask the patient and staff questions to make sure that the treatment being done is the correct one. Make sure that the treatment will be done at the corrrect place on the patient's body.
Goal 2: Improve staff communication
Read back spoken or phone orders to be person who gave the order.
Create a list of abbreviations and symbols that are not to be used.
Quickly get important test results to the right staff person.
Create steps for staff to follow when sending patients to the next caregiver. The steps should help staff tell about the patient's care. Make sure there is time to ask and answer questions.
Goal 3: Use medicines safely
Create a list of medicines with names that look alike or sound alike. Update the list every year.
Take extra care with patients who take medicines to thin their blood.
Goal 4: Prevent infection
Use the hand cleaning guidelines from the World Health Organization or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Report death or injury to patients from infections that happen in health care organizations.
Use proven guidelines to prevent infection of the blood.
Goal 5: Check patient medicines
Find out what medicines each patient is taking. Make sure that it is okay for the patient to take any new medicines with their current medications.
Give a list of the patient's medicines to their next caregiver. Give the list to the patient's regular doctor before the patient goes home.
Give a list of the patient's medicines to the patient and their family before they go home. Explain the list.
Some patients may get medicine in small amounts or for a short time. Make sure that it is okay for those patients to take those medicines with their current medicines.
Goal 6: Prevent patients from falling
Find out which patients are most likely to fall. For example, is the patient taking any medicines that might make them weak, dizzy, or sleepy? Take action to prevent falls for these patients.
Goal 7: Help patients to be involved in their care
Tell each patient and their family how to report their complaints about safety.
Goal 8: Identify patient safety risks
Find out if there are any risks for patients who are getting oxygen. For example, fires in the patient's home.
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