Section 17-9315. HOME HEALTH AIDE TASKS

 

9315.1 Under the supervision of a licensed nurse or health professional the HHA may perform the following tasks:

 

(a) Perform personal care including assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, personal hygiene, toileting, transferring from the wheelchair, and instrumental activities such as meal preparation, laundry, grocery shopping, telephone use, and money management;

 

(b) Change urinary drainage bags;

 

(c)  Assist the client with transfer, ambulation, and exercise as prescribed;

 

(d)  Assist the client with self-administration of medication;

 

(e) Measure and record temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure;

 

(f) Measure and record height and weight;

 

(g) Observe, record, and report the client’s physical condition, behavior, or  appearance;

 

(h) Prepare meals in accordance with dietary guidelines;

 

(i) Assist with eating;

 

(j) Implement universal precautions to ensure infection control;

 

(k) Perform tasks related to keeping the client’s living area in a condition that promotes the client’s health and comfort;

 

(l)Change simple dressings that do not require the skills of a licensed nurse;

 

(m) Assist the client with activities that are directly supportive of skilled therapy services;

 

(n) Assist with routine care of prosthetic and orthotic devices;

 

(o) Empty and change colostomy bags and perform care of the stoma;

 

(p) Clean around a g-tube site;

 

(q) Administer an enema;

 

(r) Administer oxygen therapy; and    

 

(s)Administer medications, provided that the HHA has received the medication administration training and obtained certification as a medication aide.

 

authority

Director of the Department of Health, pursuant to the authority set forth in section 302(14) of the District of Columbia Health Occupations Revision Act of 1985, effective March 15, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-99; D.C. Official Code § 3-1203.02(14) (2007 Repl.)), and Mayor’s Order 98-140, dated August 20, 1998

source

Final Rulemaking published at 59 DCR 8359, 8369 (July 13, 2012).