§163. Minimum staff for program center; duties and responsibilities of staff

A. In accordance with the purposes and intents of R.S. 46:161(D), personnel employed at parish health units for the purpose of administering and staffing existing health programs shall undertake, where possible, to perform the duties and responsibilities required of the staff of health screening and maintenance program centers. Additional staff shall be hired only as needed. Each of the parish health units at which a program center is established shall be staffed at a minimum with a licensed registered nurse, a social worker, a health educator, and a clerical worker. In addition, the services of a licensed physician shall be provided. Outreach and transportation services should be coordinated by the parish councils on aging and provided by parish councils on aging with other service providers in the district.

B. The duties and responsibilities of the staff shall be as follows:

(1) The licensed physician shall serve as team leader, prepare medical histories, conduct physical examinations, supervise the registered nurse in performance of basic laboratory tests, and conduct case conferences.

(2) The licensed registered nurse shall conduct nursing evaluations, perform basic laboratory tests, perform basic personnel and supervisory functions, and participate in case conferences.

(3) The social worker shall interview the participant and accompanying family members, evaluate the patient's functional status in terms of activities of daily living and special needs, evaluate the attitude of the patient and his family toward further care.

(4) The health educator shall educate patient in importance of compliance with recommended medical care, and provide basic nutritional education to patients.

(5) The outreach worker shall perform routine outreach recruit, and train and supervise volunteer outreach workers.

(6) The clerical worker shall perform receptionist duties, schedule appointments, handle cancellations, schedule follow-up contracts, and perform routine clerical duties.

In addition, the members of the staff shall perform such other duties as are necessary to implement the purposes of this Subpart.

Added by Acts 1977, No. 654, §1. Amended by Acts 1978, No. 773, §1.