Washington, DC – Two of the nation’s organizations representing long term care providers and physicians – the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and AMDA – issued new recommendations regarding the use of Physician Order Sheets and Verbal Orders in America’s nursing homes.
Prompted by heightened concern about patient safety issues, especially related to medical errors and medication use, AHCA and AMDA formed an ad hoc workgroup to evaluate existing clinical practice regarding physician orders for patients in skilled nursing facilities. The workgroup’s collaboration, which began three years ago, solicited insights from clinical experts, who examined current practices that must comply with various state laws and regulations. The workgroup also sought input from a diverse cross-section of providers and practitioners knowledgeable about proper medication use and safe order writing. “The recommendations issued by AHCA and AMDA underscore the importance of having processes in place that are consistent with professional standards for prescribing treatments and issuing medical orders,” remarked Steve Levenson, MD, CMD, a key contributor and AMDA liaison to the workgroup.
“AHCA appreciates the level of expertise that AMDA and other members of our workgroup contributed. We believe that these recommendations will help facility staff to think through how physician orders are taken and transcribed in a way that addresses patients’ needs and reflects the professional standards inherent in good clinical practice,” commented Sandra Fitzler, RN, AHCA’s Senior Director of Clinical Services.
For more detail, view recommendations regarding the use of physician order sheets and verbal orders.
About AHCA
As the nation’s largest association of long term and post-acute care providers, the American Health Care Association (AHCA) advocates for quality care and services for frail, elderly and disabled Americans. Compassionate and caring employees provide essential care to one million individuals in our 11,000 not-for-profit and proprietary member facilities.
About AMDA
The American Medical Directors Association (AMDA) is the national professional association of medical directors, attending physicians, and other professionals practicing long term care medicine committed to the continuous improvement of patient care. The organization provides education, advocacy, information, and professional development for medical directors and other practitioners from various disciplines working together to deliver quality long term care.