Hi,
I am also concerned about how the Board of Nursing would respond to this. Kathy, you & I attended a MN Home Care Council meeting last year when this proposal was discussed and if I remember correctly, Renee Cronquist, from the BON, was very vocal about her opposition to moving a bill like this forward and the delegation of duties related to high tech client care being assigned to medical technicians.
My specific questions are:
1. What are the training requirements for a Med tech. and what makes their qualifications similar to that of an LPN? I can agree that a CEMT has adequate training to work in a similar fashion to an LPN, but not a med tech.
2. Sec. 5, Subd. 2, (7) - Supervision:
Medicare is not specific regarding LPN supervision requirements, so tying the requirement to this makes no sense. MN Statute would need to specify exactly what is required.
3. Sec. 6, Subd.6 - Delegation:
Again, what training is provided to a med tech which would allow them complete independence of medication administration? Perhaps it could be delegated to them, but this seems to allow much broader approval that may not be safe practice.
4. Sec. 7, Subd. 2a. - Training for Certified Professionals:
The training listed is very similar to what most agencies provide to a home health aide upon hire, with the exception of the vent and trach training. Again, this feels oversimplified and I am concerned it could result in placing under-qualified individuals into the HC workforce which could then place clients and agencies at risk.
I am all for increasing the available workforce, but it should be done carefully and with more input from the industry and definitely requires BON support.
Sue
Susan Morgan, RN, BSN | Compliance Director
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