The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation
and enforcement of these rules. Where the context in which words are used in
these rules indicates that such is the intent, words in the singular number
shall include the plural and vice versa. Throughout these rules, gender
pronouns are used interchangeably. The drafters have attempted to utilize each
gender pronoun in equal numbers, in random distribution. Words in each gender
shall include individuals of the other gender.
For purpose of these rules, the following shall apply:
(a) "Age of majority." The age at which a
child becomes an adult, which is currently defined by W.S. §
14-1-101 as the age of eighteen (18)
years.
(b) "Central Registry." The
registry maintained by the Wyoming Department of Family Services pursuant to
W.S. §
14-3-213, which indexes perpetrators of child
abuse or neglect and abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment of disabled
adults. The registry information is available by calling
307-777-5894.
(c) "Certified Nurse
Assistant (CNA)." An individual who is currently certified by the Wyoming State
Board of Nursing and his/her certification has been verified by the home health
agency Administrator or his/her designee.
(d) "Chief Administrative Officer." The
Director, Department of Health as per W.S. §
9-2-101(e), or the
designated Licensure representative.
(e) "Client." A person who is served by, or
uses the services of a home health agency, either with or without
charge.
(f) "Complaint." A formal
allegation of injustice or perceived harm referred to an outside party or
agency.
(g) "Complaint
Investigations." Those investigations required to be performed by the State
Long Term Care Ombudsman as per W.S. §
9-2-1301 through W.S. §
9-2-1309 or by the State Survey Agency as per
the agreement dated June 18, 1985 between the Secretary of the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services and the State of Wyoming.
(h) "Days." Calendar days.
(i) "Dietitian." A person who is registered
by the American Dietetic Association and provides nutritional and dietary
consultation services to the home health agency and individual
clients.
(j) "Fidelity bond." A
contract of fidelity insurance, in which there is an agreement to insure
another against loss arising from the want of honesty, integrity or fidelity of
an employee of the home health agency.
(k) "Governing Body." The individual(s),
group, or agency that has ultimate authority and responsibility for
establishing client care policies, personnel policies, and providing for
organization, management and planning of the home health agency.
(l) "Grievance." A concern of inequitable or
inaccurate action that is handled through the agencies internal grievance
procedure.
(m) "Health Care
Services." Includes, but is not limited to, nursing, physical therapy, speech
pathology, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, medical social work, home
health aide, and dietary services. All staff shall be licensed/certified in
accordance with the Wyoming State Statutes.
(n) "Homemaker." A person who assists with
environmental services such as housekeeping, basic meal preparation, shopping
and laundry. Homemakers provide no personal care.
(o) "Home Health Agency." Any group, public
agency, private organization, or any individual person who is primarily engaged
in arranging for and directly providing two or more health care services to
persons at their residence.
(p)
"Home Health Aide." A nursing assistant certified by the Wyoming Board of
Nursing who has received sixteen (16) hours of additional training on home
health issues, approved by the Wyoming Board of Nursing.
(q) "Licensing Division." The Department of
Health, Office of Health Quality.
(r) "Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)." A
person who is licensed to practice as a licensed practical nurse by the Wyoming
Board of Nursing pursuant to W.S. §
33-21-120.
(s) "Occupational Therapy Assistant." A
person who is licensed by the Wyoming Board of Occupational Therapy to practice
as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant pursuant to W.S. §
33-40-102(a)(ii).
(t) "Occupational Therapist." A person who is
licensed by the Wyoming Board of Occupational Therapy to practice as a
Registered Occupational Therapist pursuant to W.S. §
33-40-102(a)(iv).
(u) "Occupational Therapy." The use of
purposeful activity with individuals who are limited by physical injury or
illness, psychosocial dysfunction, developmental or learning disabilities or
the aging process in order to maximize independence, prevent disability and to
maintain health. The practice encompasses evaluation, treatment and
consultation. Occupational therapy is provided by an occupational therapist or
by a certified occupation therapy assistant under the supervision of an
occupational therapist.
(v)
"Personal Care." Activities such as, but not limited to, bathing, grooming,
feeding, ambulating, exercising, oral hygiene, and skin care.
(w) "Physical Therapy Assistant." A person
who is licensed to practice in the State of Wyoming as a physical therapy
assistant pursuant to W.S. §
33-25-101(a)(v).
(x) "Physical Therapy." The evaluation,
instruction or treatment of a human being to prevent, correct, alleviate or
limit physical disability due to injury, disease or any other physical or
mental condition by the utilization of physical measures such as exercise,
massage, heat, cold, air, light, water, electricity or sound, and
rehabilitative procedures including training in functional activities and the
performance and interpretation of tests and measurements of bodily functions as
an aid in the examination, evaluation or treatment of any human conditions for
the purpose of correcting or alleviating an individuals physical or mental
disability. Physical therapy also includes the supervision of physical therapy
activities, physical therapy consultation and the establishment and
modification of physical therapy programs, but physical therapy shall not
include radiology or electro-surgery or authorize the diagnosis of disease.
Treatment by physical therapy shall be rendered subject to W.S. §
33-2-102.
(y) "Physical Therapist." A person who is
licensed to practice physical therapy in the State of Wyoming pursuant to W.S.
§
33-25-101.
(z) "Plan of Care." An individualized plan
developed for each client which, at a minimum addresses: diagnoses,
medications, types of services, equipment, visit protocol, functional
limitations, activity level, nutrition requirements, treatments and safety
issues, and any other information necessary to care for the client.
(aa) "Primarily Engaged." A relationship
between a provider of services and a client whereby a provider offers to
arrange for or directly provide health care services at a clients residence and
the client accepts the offer. When this relationship is agreed upon, the
provider becomes primarily engaged in providing health care services to the
client.
(bb) "Program
Administration." The rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of
Health and developed by the Program Division for the day-to-day operation of a
home health agency per W.S. §
9-2-1208.
(cc) "Program Division." The Department of
Health, Aging Division.
(dd)
"Provider." A licensed home health agency.
(ee) "Registered Nurse (RN)." A graduate of
an approved school of professional nursing, who is currently licensed to
practice as a registered nurse by the Wyoming Board of Nursing pursuant to W.S.
§
33-21-120 et. seq.
(ff) "Respiratory Care." The health specialty
responsible for the treatment, management, diagnostic testing, control, and
care of clients with deficiencies and abnormalities associated with the
cardiopulmonary system.
(gg)
"Skilled Services." Professional services provided by a Registered Nurse,
Licensed Practical Nurse, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech
Language Pathologist, Respiratory Therapist, Social Worker, or Registered
Dietitian.
(hh) "Speech Language
Pathologist." A person who is licensed in the State of Wyoming to practice
speech language pathology as per W.S. §
33-33-101 through W.S. §
33-33-309.
(ii) "Speech Pathology." The application of
principles, methods, and procedures for the evaluation, monitoring,
instruction, habilitation, or rehabilitation related to the development and
disorders of speech, voice, or language for preventing, identifying, evaluating
and reducing the effects of such disorders and conditions.
(jj) "Social Worker." Those services provided
by a qualified social worker or by a qualified social service assistant under
the supervision of a qualified social worker as per W.S. §
33-38-106, and according to the clients plan
of care.
(kk) "State Survey
Agency." The Department of Health, Office of Health Quality which has the
primary responsibility to determine whether health care providers/suppliers do
or do not meet federal certification standards to participate in the Medicaid
and/or Medicare programs as per the agreement dated June 18, 1985 between the
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the State of
Wyoming.
(ll) "Survey." An on-site
evaluation conducted by the Survey Division or its designated representative to
determine compliance with State rules and regulations for Home Health
Agencies.
(mm) "Survey Division."
The Department of Health, Office of Health Quality.
(nn) "Therapy services." Include physical
therapy, occupational therapy, and speech language therapy.
(oo) "Unskilled Services." Any service
provided by the agency that is not skilled services.