|
|
|
HEALTH
The Mission will provide on-site or access to off-site health care services for client/guests. Rationale The Mission recognizes that persons who are homeless suffer from an inordinate amount of ailments and illnesses which are due, in part, to their homelessness. These conditions are often exacerbated by poor nutrition and hygiene practices. Provision, of a bed, meals and showers will not, however, resolve these conditions without proper health care. Therefore, the Mission will endeavor to develop relationships with health care providers so that homeless and destitute client/guests can have their health care concerns addressed. Implementation 1. The Mission currently participates in ECCO Family Health
Center's Health Care for the Homeless program. Those in need
of health care services should speak to one of the social workers
about their needs. In addition, a registered nurse from ECCO
visits the Mission once a week to perform health care screenings
and to make referrals for follow-up care. See a social worker
for the day and times the nurse is on site.
Policy The Mission will endeavor provide services to those client/ guests who are ill, provided that the illness does not endanger the health of other client/guests and that the illness is not beyond the capacity of the Mission to serve. Rationale The Mission recognizes that persons who are homeless suffer from an inordinate amount of physical ailments and illnesses due, in part, to their homelessness. It is also realized that homeless persons have limited access to health care. However, the Mission is not a nursing home or convalescent center. Therefore, the Mission requires its client/guest to be self-caring in terms of physical health. If a client/guest suffers from an illness which requires that he/she have access to a bed during the day, the Mission will be unable to accommodate such a request. Implementation 1. If a client/guest develops an illness, the Mission staff will contact an ambulance if the nature of the illness is emergent OR the staff will con-tact ECCO Family Health Center or other facility for non-emergency medical care. 2. After treatment from appropriate medical authorities, the client/guest may continue to receive services from the Mission provided that the condition complies with the other health-related policies of the Mission (see 'Communicable Diseases" and "Injuries."). 3. If the ill person is unable to care for him/herself, requires bedrest or has other special needs, it is unlikely that the Mission will be able to accommodate that person. CINCINNATI, OHIO 2. 3. 4 POLICY: Pregnant women are often guests at Bethany House and should be encouraged to be attentive to proper medical care. It is the policy of Bethany House Services Shelter Advocates to work closely with the Crisis Pregnancy Centers. The Shelter Advocate will work with the guest to plan aftercare. PURPOSE: - To insure that the mother (and child), while a guest at Bethany House, get proper care and help during the pregnancy and delivery PROCEDURE: 1. As labor pains occur, Bethany House Services shelter staff will call a cab to provide safe transportation to the hospital for the guest. 2. If family, friends or volunteers are available they should be encouraged to provide transportation and comfort. 3. It is the responsibility of the guest to arrange for the care of her children (if any) in the event that she may have to go to the hospital during her stay at Bethany House. 4. If a woman leaves and has made no prior 'arrangement for her children, a relative or Children's Protective Service will be contacted by the guest's Shelter Advocate. Approved ________________ Title: ______Executive Director Date: ____4 / 10 /90________ D. OFFICE HOURS A Guest Attendant is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 11:00-to write clothing vouchers and to assist guests with paper work or make referrals to other agencies. The Guest Attendant is also available to speak to any guest who may wish to discuss a situation or problem. E. CLINIC Clinic hours and days will be established by the volunteer doctors, dentists and nurses and the Medical Resource staff person. The clinic schedule will be posted for all staff to see. Guests needing medical or dental attention will be escorted to and from the clinic by the nurse scheduled or on rare occasion, by a staff person or regularly scheduled volunteer. The Guest Attendants on duty may be asked to help determine which guests need medical or denial attention. Prescriptions issued by the doctors during clinic hours will be authorized for guests with no medical cards by the Guest Attendant on duty the next morning between 9:00 and 11:00 for filling at Schmidt's Pharmacy. F. PRESCRIPTIONS Some funds are available through the St. Vincent DePaul Conferences to pay for prescriptions for guests without medical cards. The Hotel works only with Schmidt's Pharmacy located in Schear's Marketplace at Third and Ludlow Streets. Prescriptions are authorized by stamping with the St. Vincent Hotel stamp and signing and dating the back of the prescription. Only Gest Attendants and Administrative personnel are authorized to sign prescriptions. Prescription authorizations are done only between 9:00 and 11:00 AM unless there is a legitimate emergency. The pharmacist at Schmidt's make us aware of any irregularities in prescriptions when the guests take them over for filling, so there is no need for staff to know the medications. There are times when a SVH staff person writes a letter requesting information on a particular guest. A copy of any correspondence sent as well as any received is to be attached to the guest's Comment Sheet. A rule of thumb here is to chart any information that would be helpful when another staff person is dealing with the guest. PLEASE REMEMBER IN ANY OF THE ABOVE TRANSACTIONS - CONFIDENTIALITY IS NOT TO BE BROKEN. MAKE SURE WE HAVE PROPER RELEASES IN ALL CASES. E. EXTENSIONS During Summer Hours when a guest is limited to fourteen nights of lodging a Guest Attendant may extend a person's stay. Extensions are normally given when a particular guest is working with the Case Manager, a Guest Attendant, a social worker or mental health worker from another agency. In most cases, a guest would be waiting for housing to become available, for a check in order to pay the deposit or the first month's rent or for admission to a rehab program. In all cases, the Guest Attendant or Case Manager must obtain official verification in order to grant an extension. There may be other reasons for granting extensions. These cases are determined by staff on an individual basis as they come up. F. CALLING POLICE FOR ASSISTANCE Any situation should be fully assessed by the staff on duty before calling the police. If staff alone is unable to get the person or persons causing the disturbance to leave the area and, if the threat of violence continues, the police should then be called. Call dispatch and give name, location and type of situation that is occurring. If safety is not jeopardized staff person should meet the police when they arrive and tell them what has taken place. IF A WEAPON IS INVOLVED, CALL THE POLICE IMMEDIATELY (911) AND INFORM THEM OF THIS FACT. (The police will respond faster if they know-there is a weapon.) G. CALLING THE PARAMEDICS Always be reluctant to call the paramedics unless it is obvious that a person is in immediate need of care. If there is any question about a person's condition, get as much information from the person as possible. A Staff person can then call any one of the emergency rooms and ask to talk to a nurse. They will help to determine the seriousness of the situation. Do remember that it is always better to err on the side of calling the paramedics than to not call and run the risk of endangering the guest's life. The staff of the St. Vincent Hotel are not medical experts and should not attempt to diagnose any medical problem. If the guest claims to need immediate attention, take his/her word for it. NOTE: Before calling the paramedics, always ask the guest if he/she is willing to go to the hospital. If they are not, there is no reason to call because there will be little the paramedics can do. and Prescription Medication BETHANY HOUSE SERVICES CINCINNATI, OHIO 2. 1. 2 POLICY: Alcohol and illicit, drugs are never permitted on the premises of Bethany House Services Shelter and should not, be used by anyone on the property. If a guest returns to the shelter and is suspected of being under the influence or in possession of alcohol or illicit drugs, the quest should be brought to the staff office and questioned. She should be warned that the use or possession of alcohol or illicit drugs will result in possible dismissal from Bethany House Services Shelter. If a guest admits to possession or use of alcohol or illicit, drugs, her Shelter Advocate or the Executive Director should be notified and a decision should be made regarding the guest's dismissal from Bethany House Services Shelter. A log entry should be made for the staff and Shelter Advocate's information. The Shelter Advocate will offer opportunities for referral and appropriate counseling. If a guest is intoxicated, she will be dismissed from Bethany House Services Shelter. The House Manager on duty should consult with the Shelter Advocate or staff member on call at, the time the situation occurs. PURPOSE: To assure continuation of an environment at Bethany House
Services Shelter that is conducive to assisting guests in re-establishing
their independence and sustaining a responsible effort on the
part of guests to secure housing as soon as possible
Approved ________________ Title: ______Executive Director Date: ____6 / 19 /_90________ BETHANY HOUSE SERVICES CINCINNATI, OHIO 2. 1. 2 POLICY: All medications must be turned in to the House Manager upon the guest's arrival at the shelter. Guests are responsible for asking the House Manager for medications at the appropriate time. PURPOSE: To assist guests in maintaining their health through provision of a secure place for keeping medications and a regular, supervised schedule for administration of medication. PROCDURE: 1. Medications should be reviewed and turned in to the House Manager upon arrival. These are to be kept safely locked in the appropriate container in the main office. Guests' medications are stored in separate containers in the medication box. 2. Medication should be given to the guest for self-administration at the appropriate and scheduled times. Specifics about medications may be included in the Guest Contract. House Managers should note in the general log the time and quantity of medication taken by the guest. 3. Prior arrangements must be made with the Shelter Advocate
for assistance with injections or other medical treatment, which
cannot be self-administered. Bethany House Services shelter staff
members, other guests, volunteers or any other persons related
to Bethany House Services are not permitted to administer medical
treatment to a guest.
Approved ________________  Date:____________________ ____________________________________ admits being under the influence of drugs/alcohol on _________________(date). I realize this action/behavior seriously threatens safety and security of the shelter. Further, I acknowledge that admitting to this action/behavior constitute a final warning and that any additional infraction of the rules will mean my immediate exit from ACCESS.
Policy The Mission may refuse services to persons who are intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol. Rationale The Mission believes that persons who are intoxicated often behave in way which may present a hazard to other client/guests of the Mission. The Mission is not a detoxification program, nor is its staff properly trained to deal with persons under the influence of alcohol. In addition, the Mission believes that excessive use of alcohol by any individual is detrimental to his/her physical and mental well-being. Therefore the Mission may refuse services to persons who are intoxicated, especially if their behavior is threatening, belligerent or otherwise disruptive to the functioning of the Mission. Implementation Persons who arrive at the Mission intoxicated 1. Men will be referred to the Inebriate Unit for housing.
Persons found consuming alcohol in or around the Mission 1. 1st offense: will be barred from premises for 30 days.
Policy The Mission does not permit its client/guests to have alcoholic beverages in their possession while on Mission property or while in the immediate vicinity of the Mission, including the front sidewalk and in the alleys around the building. Rationale The Mission feels that the use and possession of alcoholic beverages by client/guests is detrimental to their physical and mental well-being, which is in direct opposition to the purpose of the Mission. It is also felt that the presence of alcoholic beverages may precipitate conflict between client/guests. Therefore, the Mission will not permit alcoholic beverages anywhere on Mission property or in the immediate vicinity. Implementation 1. 1st offense: will be barred from premises for 30 days
Policy The Mission may refuse services to persons determined to be under the influence of drugs. Rationale The Mission believes that the use and possession of illegal drugs is detrimental to the physical and mental well-being of client/guests, and therefore is in direct opposition to the purposes of the Mission. In addition to being illegal, the use drugs can result in inappropriate and dangerous behavior by those who are under their influence. This behavior poses a clear and present danger to the other client/guests of he Mission and to the Mission's staff and volunteers. The Mission is not a rehabilitation center, nor is its staff properly trained to deal with persons who use drugs. Therefore, the Mission may refuse services to persons who are under the influence of drugs, especially if their behavior is threatening, belligerent or disruptive to the functioning of the Mission. Implementation Persons who arrive at the Mission and who are under the influence of drugs 1. If behavior is not inappropriate, housing may be offered.
Persons who are found using drugs in or around the Mission 1. 1st offense: will be barred from premises permanently
Policy The Mission does not permit its client/guests to have illegal drugs or other substances on their person while on Mission property or while in the immediate vicinity of the Mission, including the front sidewalk and in the alleys around the buildings. Persons in possession of illegal drugs will be reported to the police. Rationale The Mission believes that the use and possession of illegal drugs by persons is detrimental to their physical and mental well-being, and therefore is in direct opposition to the purpose of the Mission. It is also felt that the presence of drugs, in addition to being illegal, may precipitate -conflict between client/guests. Therefore, the Mission will refuse to serve or house anyone who is discovered to have illegal drugs in their possession. Implementation When found in the possession of client/guest 1. 1st offense: will be barred from premises for 90 days. When client/guest is found selling drugs
Policy The Mission prefers that client/guests not keep prescription medications on their person. Instead, the Mission will provide a secure place for client/guests to keep their prescription medications. Rationale The Mission recognizes that a number of its client/guests roust take prescription medication for short-term and chronic illnesses. However, the Mission also recognizes that some types of prescription medications are addictive and that unscrupulous persons may abuse or steal such drugs. Therefore, the Mission prefers that all medication be kept in the Chapel office where it can be secured both day and night. Client/guests. will be encouraged to take advantage of this service. Implementation 1. There will be a drawer or cabinet in the Chapel office which will be used to secure medications. Each client's medication will be kept in a separate bag or box on which is that person's name. 2. When a client/guest wants access to his/her medication, he/ she must check with one of the staff members in the Chapel office. The staff will not dispense the medication, but will merely hand that client/guest's bag or box of medications to him/her and the client/guest takes out the needed medications. 3. It should be noted that the medications are available only
when the Chapel office is open, so client/guests should be certain
to take enough of their medications to cover the time period
until the Chapel office is reopened. The hours for the Chapel
office to be open are as follows: 4. Once a week the Mission Supervisor will go through the contents of the medicine drawer. Any medications which have been left behind by a client/guest will be disposed of within 7 days of that person's departure. 5. Client/guests found selling their prescription medications will be barred from the premises permanently. See the policy entitled "Drugs-Possession." 6. Client/guests who abuse their medications will be treated as though they were using illegal drugs. See the policy entitled "Drugs-Use." |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
