Wyoming Administrative Code
Agency 048 - Health, Department of
Sub-Agency 0003 - Aging Division
Chapter 10 - PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION OF HOSPICE PROGRAMS
Section 10-4 - Definitions

Universal Citation: WY Code of Rules 10-4

Current through September 21, 2024

(a) "Acceptable Plan of Correction" means the State Survey Agency approved hospice plan to correct deficiencies following a survey conducted by the State Survey Agency or its designated representative. The plan of correction shall be a written document and shall provide, but not necessarily be limited to, the following information:

(i) Who is responsible for the correction;

(ii) What was done or will be done to correct the problem;

(iii) How systemic improvement action will be implemented into a Quality Improvement and Performance Program in order to prevent the likelihood of the deficient practice from reoccurring;

(iv) Who will monitor to ensure the situation does not develop again; and

(v) An appropriate date, not to exceed forty-five (45) days after the last day of survey, for the correction of deficiencies.

(b) "Central Registry" means the registry operated 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) "Complaint Investigations" means those investigations required to be performed by the Long Term Care Ombudsman per W.S. § 9-2-1301 through W.S. § 9-2-1309 or by the State Survey Agency per W.S. § 35-2-901 through W.S. § 35-2-910.

(d) "Day Care Center" is an optional part of the hospice program which provides health and social services to a hospice patient on a regularly scheduled basis. The hospice day care center is governed by the licensed hospice program.

(e) "Employee" means a paid or volunteer member of the hospice team.

(f) "Family" means those individuals who are closely linked with the patient including, but not limited to, the immediate family, the primary caregiver, and individuals with significant personal ties. The patient and family is considered the unit of care.

(g) "Hospice Patient" means a person diagnosed as terminally ill. This person, alone or in conjunction with a family member or members, has voluntarily requested admission and been accepted in the hospice program.

(h) "Hospice Volunteer" is a professional, paraprofessional, or lay person trained in providing support, patient care, or companionship to the patient and family.

(i) "Inpatient Respite Care" means the care provided to patients who temporarily reside in hospice to allow for caregiver respite.

(j) "Interdisciplinary Team" means a group of individuals who collectively have expertise in meeting the special needs of the hospice patient and his/her family. Appropriate staff/volunteers are included as needed. Coordination and communication among team members is carried out on a regular basis.

(k) "License" means the authority granted by the State Survey Agency to operate a hospice program.

(l) "Life Safety Code" means National Fire Protection Association 101 Life Safety Code cited in the Wyoming Department of Health, Chapter 3 Construction Rules and Regulations for Healthcare Facilities.

(m) "Medical Director" means an individual who is a doctor of medicine or osteopath, licensed by the State of Wyoming, and who is designated by the hospice as having overall responsibility for the medical component of the hospice program.

(n) "Non-Hospice Respite" means the care provided to a chronically ill adult in an approved facility to allow for caregiver respite not to exceed thirty (30) continuous days in duration.

(o) "Non-Hospice Respite Client" means an adult who has a long-term or chronic illness requiring caregiving by another person.

(p) "Nursing Services" means those services provided by or under the direction of a Registered Nurse based on a plan of care developed by the interdisciplinary team. These services may be provided by Licensed Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, or Certified Nursing Assistants/Home Health Aides as appropriate.

(q) "Palliative Care" means comfort care rather than curative care with an emphasis on pain and symptom control so a person can live the last days of life with dignity and comfort at home or in a home-like setting. Palliative care:

(i) affirms life and dying as a normal process;

(ii) neither hastens nor postpones death;

(iii) provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms;

(iv) integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care; and

(v) offers a support system to help the family cope during the patient's illness and in their own bereavement.

(r) "Psychosocial Services" means those counseling and casework services which address the social, economic, psychological, and emotional needs of patients and families. Psychosocial services include, but are not limited to, psychosocial assessment of the patient and family, counseling to assist with the stress of terminal illness, assistance in planning for care, and coordination of community resources.

(s) "Spiritual Services" means those services that help patients and/or caregivers to integrate the dying experience into his/her life; to find meaning and purpose in what remains of life, and to further his/her appreciation of spiritual values that give support and hope in coping with the changes that are taking place.

(t) "State Survey Agency" means the Wyoming Department of Health, Aging Division, Healthcare Licensing and Surveys, which has the responsibility to determine whether healthcare providers/suppliers meet federal certification standards to participate in the Medicare and/or Medicaid programs per the agreement between the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the State of Wyoming dated June 18, 1985. The State Survey Agency also determines whether providers/suppliers meet state licensure requirements per W.S. § 35-2-901 through § 35-2-910.

(u) "Survey" means an evaluation conducted by the State Survey Agency or its designated representative to determine compliance with this Rule.

(v) "Volunteer Services" means those services provided by trained hospice volunteers who have agreed to provide service under the direction of a hospice program.

(i) Hospice volunteers may be used to provide support, patient care, and companionship to the patient and the patient's family during the remaining days of the patient's life and to the surviving family following the patient's death.

(ii) Volunteers may also provide supportive services to the hospice staff in areas such as, but not limited to, assisting in the office, public relations, and other hospice activities.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Wyoming may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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