Clients who are prescribed medications by a medical practitioner receive age appropriate assistance in following the physician’s orders while self-administrating their prescription. We educate the client on the medical diagnosis that indicates their need for the medication, the pharmaceutical name, dosage and amount taken, the anticipated results, potential adverse reactions and side effects, and the potential adverse reaction that could result from not taking the medication as prescribed. Clients who may have a problem comprehending this level of instruction due to young age and/or learning disability are educated by alternative methods such as color, shape, number of pills, time of day, etc.

Ascend Behavioral Health and Wellness, LLC shall ensure that the Assistance in Self-Administration of Medication policies and procedures are developed and approved by a medical practitioner, pharmacist, or registered nurse.

Ascend Behavioral Health and Wellness, LLC shall ensure that assistance in the self -administration of medication is provided only by A staff member who has the following skills and knowledge before providing assistance in the self administration of medication to a client:

  • Knowledge of the medications commonly prescribed for clients with behavioral health issues treated by our agency;
  • Knowledge of the common benefits, side effects, and adverse reactions of those medications;
  • Knowledge of the signs, symptoms, or circumstances indicating that a client should not take a medication and of who to contact to review and address the client’s situation;
  • Knowledge of the differences between assisting in the self-administration of medication and medication administration;
  • Skill in the assisting in the self-administration of medication;
  • Knowledge of the medical terminology used in assisting in the self-administration of medication;
  • Knowledge of the signs, symptoms, and indicators of toxicity or overdose and skill in identifying the signs, symptoms, and indicators of toxicity or overdose;
  • Skill in responding to a medication error or medical emergency; and
  • Skill in documenting assistance in the self-administration of medication.

These skills are verified by the medical practitioner or RN:

  • Visual observation of the staff member interacting with another individual, such as through role playing exercises;
  • Verbal interaction with the staff member, such as interviewing, discussion, or question and answer; or
  • A written examination.

The clinical director, treatment coordinator or their designee verifies each of the skills and knowledge required are documented, including:

  • Name of the staff member;
  • Date skills and knowledge were verified;
  • Method of verification used; and
  • The clinical director, treatment coordinator or their designee who verified the staff member’s skills and knowledge will sign with their professional credential or job title, along with the date signed.

Ascend Behavioral Health and Wellness, LLC will ensure a qualified staff member is present at the facility at all times when a client who needs assistance in the self-administration of medication. Staff members will be trained in the assistance in the self-administration of medications at least once at least once every 12 months.