Environmental Visit

PROTOCOL FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ENVIRONMENTAL VISIT

(To assess patient's accommodation prior to discharge, without patient present)

1. The Occupational Therapist will use their clinical judgement to decide if an Environmental Visit is required.
2. Patients that require an environmental visit will first be assessed in hospital by the Occupational Therapy staff to ensure an enviromental visit can be safely and appropriately undertaken without placing the staff at undue risk.
3. Verbal permission will be sought from patient and carer. If no carer is available then written permission will be sought from the patient (proforma available).
4. Once the decision to undertake an environmental visit has been made the visit will, except under extenuating circumstances, take place within 2 working days.
5. The visit may be carried out by an Occupational Therapist alone if the carer is to be present in home. Two staff members are required if written permission is needed.
6. The Occupational Therapist will be responsible for arranging a time which is suitable for all interested parties.
7. The Occupational Therapist will inform the ward staff immediately the date and time of the environmental visit has been arranged. It is the ward staff's responsibility to ensure this is recorded in the ward diary.
8. The ward staff will be responsible for ensuring that access to the patient's home is available for the environmental visit i.e. that the key is available on the ward or that a key-holder will be present at the house.
9. Mobile phones will be carried on all environment visit, being switched on when leaving the hospital and off when returning.
10. Contact details including a mobile phone number will be left in the department for emergency use, along with the expected time of return.  Buddy system protocol to be used.
11. Verbal permission will be obtained from the patient before any furniture, rugs etc. are moved or removed.
12. Written permission will be obtained from the patient before adaptations are requested for their use.
13. Verbal permission will be obtained from the patient before  equipment is issued/ requested.
14. In the case of privately rented accommodation written permission is required from the landlord of the property, prior to fitting adaptations.
15. If a building is felt to be unsafe (either for structural or hygiene reasons) then the visit will be abandoned.
16. If the reason for undertaking an environmental visit is medical equipment, refer to the relevant protocol e.g. hoisting.
17. On completion of the environmental visit the Occupational Therapist will offer an immediate verbal report to the nurse in charge of the ward or the patient's named nurse. A written report or summary will be supplied within 2 working days of the environmental visit taking place. Copies will be sent to the ward, all agencies involved and the patient's GP asd required.