Build your Virginia policy manual

Will home attendants help clients with medication?

Personal care can include administering normally self-administered drugs as § 54.1-3408 allows. If you offer it, you need a medication management policy (12VAC5-381-180 C 7; -360 B 2).

Will you drug test employees?

Your personnel policies must cover maintaining a drug-free workplace (12VAC5-381-180 E 6). Testing is your choice; if you test, the policy says when.

Will any services be provided by contractors rather than employees?

Services not provided by employees need a written agreement with the items in 12VAC5-381-220.

Will you use telemonitoring?

For example, remote check-ins or monitoring devices in the client's home (12VAC5-381-180 C 17).

Will you have a drop site?

A location staff use for daily tasks such as getting supplies, using fax and copy machines, charting and storing client records, also called a charting station or workstation. It must not have staff assigned, accept referrals or be advertised (12VAC5-381-10; -270).

Include recommended practices?

Some policies end with practical steps that go beyond the rules. Virginia requires you to comply with your own policies, so leave them out if you won't follow them.