New Employee Orientation

The following are excerpts from the Auto Injury Home Care Specialists new hire orientation packet.
This orientation information is provided online in order educate new and existing employees as well as expedite the hiring process.

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Confidentiality Policy

In the course of your employment, you may have access to information about our business, customers, patients and other employees.  This information must be kept confidential.  If you are uncertain about whether information is confidential, check with your supervisor before discussing it with anyone.  Any violation of this policy may result in discipline of the HIPPA code, including discharge from employment and up to prosecution depending on the violation.

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Employee Agreement

• The employee will carry out the duties and responsibilities listed in the job description/list of assigned tasks, as defined specifically for each case, and signed by employee and employer.

• Employees are expected to work all scheduled shifts. In the event that you are unable to make a scheduled shift, you are required to contact the office at least a minimum of 6 hours prior to the beginning of your shift. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action.

• The employee is responsible to fill out the required documentation for their hours worked in order to get paid on time.

• The employee will not be paid for scheduled hours not worked unless the time not worked is covered by a benefit as provided by the employer.

• Both parties to this agreement will respect each other's individuality and treat each other accordingly. Both will attempt to be flexible and work at solving problems as they arise.

• At least two weeks notice will be given by employee regarding termination of their employment.

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Health & Safety Agreement

I do understand the physical requirements of my job and understand proper lifting and moving techniques which I am expected to use in moving and lifting objects and/or patients.

I have been informed and do fully understand that any injury claimed by me while on the job must be reported immediately to my supervisor and documented on an Accident/Incident Report form. I understand that unless and incident report is completed immediately and signed by me, the agency may not consider a payment of medical bills through our Worker's Compensation policy or any other benefits as a result of my injury. I further understand that if the accident/injury is proven to be a result of my failing to follow policy/procedure, the agency may not be expected to cover medical payments.

I do fully understand that I am not encouraged to lift or transfer any object or patient by myself unless I know that I can safely lift or transfer alone  

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Cellular Phone Use

Auto Injury Home Care Specialists does not permit employees to use their cellular phone while working on any case, or at any time while working or preforming tasks on company time. If employees take their cell phones to work, there are expected to leave it in their car, purse, coat, work bag, etc. and can check messages and calls every 2 hours. Cellular phone use is also prohibited while driving a vehicle, this is very dangerous and should be avoided any time. If it is mandatory to use your cellular phone, it is mandatory that you pull over and stop the vehicle each time I need to conduct agency business on your cellular phone.

 

Termination At Will

I understand if I become an employee of Auto Injury Home Care Specialists, I will comply with the Policies and Procedures as described in the company manual.

I understand that my employment is terminable "at will." I understand that my employment may be terminated at any time, with or without cause, and may be terminated at my discretion or at the discretion of Auto Injury Home Care Specialists.

 

Following Infection Control Agreement

Auto Injury Home Care Specialists wants to improve patient outcomes by identifying and reducing the risk of infection in patients and agency staff.

The agency will document infections that are acquired while the patient is receiving services from the agency. The documentation will include at a minimum the date that the infection was detected, patient's name or number, primary diagnosis, signs/symptoms, type of infection, pathogens identified and treatment.

The infection control program will include surveillance, identification, prevention, control, and reporting. Targeted surveillance of infections will focus on specific patient population or procedures.

Infection Control Standards are established in compliance with the recommendations of the National Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia. All staff are educated on these standards and they are practiced consistently. Any incidents of infection related to care and service are reported.

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Drug Testing Policy

Agency employees may not possess, distribute and or use alcoholic beverages or controlled substances including inhalants while on premises of property controlled by the agency, while working any shift or any case on company time, or engaged in any company sponsored activity.

Patients or visitors may not possess, distribute and or use alcoholic beverages or controlled substances while on the premises of the property controlled by the agency.

Based on reasonable cause, the agency may conduct searches or inspections of an employees personal belongings. The employee may be asked to take a drug test. Refusal to consent may result in termination.

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Sexual Harassment

Auto Injury Home Care Specialists does not tolerate sexual harassment, as it is a form of gender-based discrimination.

Definition:
Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, any type of discrimination based on an individual's gender (male or female) is illegal. Sexual harassment is considered to be a form of gender discrimination. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, sexual harassment is "unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when submission to the conduct enters into employment decisions and/or the conduct unreasonably interferes with and individual's work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment."

The agency will not tolerate any form of sexual harassment from any of its employees. The agency encourages that any behavior which could be construed as sexual harassment be reported immediately to the supervisor and/or administrator. There is no need to fear retaliation. Both females and males can be sexually harassed when exposed to repeated unwelcome sexual advances or to a pattern of verbal abuse, threatening, crude, impolite, or unprofessional conduct.

Sexual harassment is against company policy.

The agency encourages and urges an employee to come forward and discuss any sexual harassment with an administrator.

Every complaint will be taken seriously and investigated immediately and escalated to the proper authorities if necessary.

Investigations will be documented.

Any employee involved in a sexual harassment complaint will have full opportunity to give a full account of their recollection of the incident or incidents.

The incident(s) will be investigated thoroughly and appropriate action will be taken.

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Dress Code

Policy:
Auto Injury Home Care Specialists employees adhere to the dress code of the agency.

Purpose:
To promote a professional image by Auto Injury Home Care Specialists Employees.

Procedure:
Auto Injury Home Care Specialists strives to present a professional and safe health care image to patients' families, the community, and other health care professionals. Auto Injury Home Care Specialists staff members adhere to he following standards in their dress appearance:

1.   All staff will wear the approved Auto Injury Home Care Specialists name badge when providing patient care.

2.   Clothing shall be clean, neat, and well maintained. 
Allowed Clothing: Loose comfortable clothing, scrubs, walking shorts that are at least mid-thigh in length, hemmed blue jeans, plain      T- shirt, and casual street wear.
Disallowed Clothing: Miniskirts, short shorts, tank tops, halter-tops, midriffs, cut offs, frayed blue jeans, or T-shirts with any sayings on them.

3.   Shoes should be conservative and comfortable. We encourage closed toed shoes for personal safety and infection control while providing patient care. No flip-flops or open toed sandals.

4.   When attending school with a client, the employee will be provided with a copy of the schools dress code and must adhere to it.

5.   Nurses should keep a clean lab coat available to wear over their clothes when accompanying patients to any medical appointment. (These may be unexpected.)

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Abuse/Neglect/Exploitation

ANE = Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation
Policy:
Auto Injury Home Care Specialists will initiate an investigation of all know and alleged acts of ANE by agency employees, including contractors and volunteers, immediately upon witnessing the act or upon receipt of the allegation.

General Reporting:
Professionals as defined in the law are required to report immediately first cause to believe that the elderly or disabled patient has or maybe abused.

A report shall be made regardless of whether staff suspects that a report may have been previously made.

Reports of Adult Abuse shall be made to:
Department of Family Protective Service (DFPS) 1-855-444-3911

Procedure:
1.   The agency will contact DFPS to file a report and to collect a verbal report tracking number.
2.   The agency will contact the Michigan Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) to make an ANE verbal report and to pass on the DFPS verbal report tracking number.
3.   The agency will log the ANE report on the Provider Investigation form.
4.   The agency will forward the Provider Investigation form to DADS no later than 10 days after the verbal report.

The ANE that is logged will include the following information:
Incident Date
Alleged Victim
Perpetrator
Any Witnesses
The Allegation
Injury
Adverse Effects
Assessments
Treatment
Investigation Summary
Any Action Taken

Information related to the suspected abuse and/or neglect is communicated to the members of the interdisciplinary team. All personnel are to report all incidents of suspected client abuse and/or neglect to the Director of Operations and or Clinical Director, and/or designee who will conduct an initial investigation.

Document the investigation and submit documentation to the appropriate authorities.
Assure that patient is not in immediate danger of being exposed to further abuse.
Report suspected abusers to the appropriate authorities, ie., licensing certified boards. 
Attempt follow-up with the appropriate authorities to ensure that the situation is rectified.
Maintain confidentiality of the report.

Training:
The agency shall develop training for all staff on the policies and procedures in regard to reporting adult abuse. New staff shall receive this training as part of their initial training/orientation. Training shall be documented. As part of the training, staff shall be informed that the staff person who conducts the screening and has cause to suspect elderly or disabled client abuse has occurred is legally responsible for reporting. A joint report may be made with the supervisor.

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Work Schedule Policy

IMPORTANT: Once you have accepted a shift you are obligated to work that shift.

 

Some of our clients require 24/7 care and if you are scheduled to work an overnight shift, you are expected to be awake, alert and not sleeping during scheduled hours.

New Employees may be scheduled one week at a time for the first 30 days. This is done to establish accountability.

Employees are required to work at least one shift a month in order to stay active. If you work on a case that requires staff 7 days a week you may be asked to work at least one weekend per month.

If you are asked to work for a client outside of scheduled hours you must get approval from either your staff coordinator or the Director of Operations. Failure to obtain office approval may affect your pay or employment.

If you need to request time off you must complete the request for unpaid time off form at least two weeks in advance. Holidays will be on a fist come, first serve basis. We are a service agency and our clients need coverage through the holidays.

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Training Policy

Employees are given the opportunity to observe and try out working with our clients to see if you like the job, client and work environment. Then after that if you continue training until you feel comfortable working the case on your own and begin working with us, then you will get paid for all of your training hours. Unfortunately over the last few years, we have had people come in and try it out for a couple days, just to make a couple hundred dollars, and then leave without ever having the intention of taking the job.

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Calling In Policy 

Auto Injury Home Care Specialists requires no less than four hours notification for cancellation of a shift. If you are cancelling your shift during normal business house call the office. If you are cancelling your shift after business hours call the on call scheduler. Do not have someone call for you, we must speak to you unless it is physically impossible. Employees are given the opportunity to observe and try out working with our clients to see if you like the job, client and work environment. Then after that if you continue training into you feel comfortable working the case on your own and begin working with us, then you will get paid for all of your training hours. Unfortunately over the last few years, we have had people come in and try it out for a couple days, just to make a couple hundred dollars, and then leave without ever having the intention of taking the job

NEVER CALL THE CLIENT TO REPORT A SHIFT CANCELLATION, ALWAYS CALL THE ON-CALL SUPERVISOR, UNLESS SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE WITH THE CLIENT AND APPROVED BY THE OFFICE.

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Scheduling/Time Keeping Policy

At Auto Injury Home Care Specialists we use the mobile application SHIFTPLANNING for scheduling and accountability purposes. You should download the Shiftplanning application to your mobile phone. At the time of your orientation or via email you will receive instruction on how to gain initial access to your Shiftplanning account. This will allow you to keep track of your scheduled cases on your phone and let us know when you have arrived for your shifts, so we know that our clients have coverage.

It is important that you clock-in and clock-out times are recorded in Shiftplanning are close to the shift start and end times on the client service documentation. It is important that we know as an agency that our employees are making it to their scheduled shifts for both the patient and the client safety. If you ever need help making it to a clients shift, please contact the agency ASAP and we will do our best to help get you there.

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Notes

Please provide the Auto Injury Home Care Specialists office with the following documentation to begin your employment:
-Copy of driver's license
-Copy of auto insurance
-Copy of professional licensing (when applicable)
-Copy of CPR certification
-Record of TB testing