Washington Administrative Code
Title 246 - Health, Department of
FACILITY STANDARDS AND LICENSING
Chapter 246-335 - In-home services agencies
Part 3 - Requirements Specific to Home Health Agency Services
Section 246-335-510 - Definitions-Home health

(1) "Acute care" means care provided by an in-home services agency licensed to provide home health services for patients who are not medically stable or have not attained a satisfactory level of rehabilitation. These patients require frequent monitoring by a registered nurse licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW, a physical therapist licensed under chapter 18.74 RCW, a respiratory therapist licensed under chapter 18.89 RCW, an occupational therapist licensed under chapter 18.59 RCW, a speech therapist licensed under chapter 18.35 RCW, a dietitian or nutritionist as defined in subsection (5) of this section, or social worker licensed under chapter 18.320 RCW to assess health status and progress.

(2) "Assessment" means an evaluation performed by an appropriate health care professional of a patient's needs.

(3) "Audio-only telemedicine" means the delivery of health care services through the use of HIPAA-compliant audio-only technology (including web-based applications), permitting real-time communication between the patient and the agency provider for the purpose of consultation, education, diagnosis, or treatment, as appropriate per scope of practice. "Audio-only telemedicine" also includes supervision of home health aide services to evaluate compliance with the plan of care and patient satisfaction with care. "Audio-only telemedicine" does not include the use of facsimile, electronic mail, or text messages.

(4) "Authorizing practitioner" means the individual practitioners licensed in Washington state, or another state according to the exemption criteria established in chapters 18.57, 18.71, and 18.79 RCW, and authorized to approve a home health plan of care:

(5) "Cardiopulmonary resuscitation" or "CPR" means a procedure to support and maintain breathing and circulation for a person who has stopped breathing (respiratory arrest) or whose heart has stopped (cardiac arrest).

(6) "Dietitian or nutritionist" means a person certified as such under chapter 18.138 RCW or registered by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as a registered dietitian nutritionist; certified by the board for certification of nutrition specialists as a certified nutrition specialist; or certified by the American Clinical Board of Nutrition as a diplomate of the American Clinical Board of Nutrition.

(7) "Director of clinical services" means an individual responsible for nursing, therapy, nutritional, social, and related services that support the plan of care provided by in-home health and hospice agencies.

(8) "Established relationship" means the patient has had, within the past two years, at least one in-person appointment with the agency provider providing audio-only telemedicine or with a provider employed at the same agency as the provider providing audio-only telemedicine; or the patient was referred to the agency provider providing audio-only telemedicine by another provider who has had, within the past two years, at least one in-person appointment with the patient and has provided relevant medical information to the provider providing audio-only telemedicine.

(9) "Home health agency" means a person administering or providing two or more home health services directly or through a contract arrangement to individuals in places of temporary or permanent residence. A person administering or providing nursing services only may elect to be designated a home health agency for purposes of licensure.

(10) "Home health aide" means an individual who is a nursing assistant certified or nursing assistant registered under chapter 18.88A RCW.

(11) "Home health aide services" means services provided by a home health agency or a hospice agency under the supervision of a registered nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or speech therapist who is employed by or under contract to a home health or hospice agency. Such care includes ambulation and exercise, assistance with self-administered medications, reporting changes in patients' conditions and needs, completing appropriate records, and personal care or homemaker services.

(12) "Home health services" means services provided to ill, disabled, or vulnerable individuals. These services include, but are not limited to, nursing services, home health aide services, physical therapy services, occupational therapy services, speech therapy services, respiratory therapy services, nutritional services, medical social services, and home medical supplies or equipment services.

(13) "Home medical supplies or equipment services" means diagnostic, treatment, and monitoring equipment and supplies provided for the direct care of individuals within a plan of care.

(14) "Licensed practical nurse" or "LPN" means an individual licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW.

(15) "Licensed nurse" means a licensed practical nurse or registered nurse under chapter 18.79 RCW.

(16) "Maintenance care" means care provided by in-home services agencies licensed to provide home health services that are necessary to support an existing level of health, to preserve a patient from further failure or decline, or to manage expected deterioration of disease. Maintenance care consists of periodic monitoring by a licensed nurse, therapist, dietitian or nutritionist, or social worker to assess a patient's health status and progress.

(17) "Medication administration" means assistance with the application, instillation, or insertion of medications according to a plan of care, for patients of an in-home services agency licensed to provide home health services and are under the direction of appropriate agency health care personnel. The assistance is provided in accordance with the Nurse Practice Act as defined in chapters 18.79 RCW and 246-840 WAC and the nursing assistant scope of practice as defined in chapters 18.88A RCW and 246-841 WAC.

(18) "Palliative care" means specialized care for people living with serious illness. Care is focused on relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness and treatment whatever the diagnosis. The goal is to improve and sustain quality of life for both the patient, loved ones, and other care companions. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness and can be provided along with active treatment. Palliative care facilitates patient autonomy, access to information, and choice. The palliative care team helps patients and families understand the nature of their illness, and make timely, informed decisions about care.

(19) "Patient" means an individual receiving home health services.

(20) "Professional medical equipment assessment services" means periodic care provided by a registered nurse licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW, a physical therapist licensed under chapter 18.74 RCW, an occupational therapist licensed under chapter 18.59 RCW, a respiratory therapist licensed under chapter 18.89 RCW, or dietitian or nutritionist as defined in subsection (5) of this section within their scope of practice, for patients who are medically stable, for the purpose of assessing the patient's medical response to prescribed professional medical equipment, including, but not limited to, measurement of vital signs, oximetry testing, and assessment of breath sounds and lung function (spirometry).

(21) "Registered nurse" or "RN" means an individual licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW.

(22) "Social worker" means a person with a degree from a social work educational program accredited and approved as provided in RCW 18.320.010 or who meets qualifications provided in 42 C.F.R. Sec. 418.114 as it existed on January 1, 2012.

(23) "Telehealth" means a collection of means or methods for enhancing health care, public health, and health education delivery and support using telecommunications technology. Telehealth encompasses a broad variety of technologies and tactics to deliver virtual medical, health, and education services.

(24) "Telemedicine" means the delivery of health care services through the use of HIPAA-compliant, interactive audio and video technology (including web-based applications), permitting realtime communication between the patient and the agency provider, for the purpose of consultation, education, supervision, diagnosis, or treatment, as appropriate per scope of practice. "Telemedicine" also includes supervision of home health aide services to evaluate compliance with the plan of care and patient satisfaction with care. "Telemedicine" does not include the use of audio-only telephone, facsimile, electronic mail, or text messages.

(25) "Therapist" means an individual who is:

(26) "Therapy assistant" means a licensed occupational therapy assistant defined under chapter 18.59 RCW or physical therapist assistant defined under chapter 18.74 RCW.