x-sender: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com x-receiver: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com Received: from mail pickup service by sc.lmhostediq.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Thu, 4 Feb 2016 13:47:29 -0500 thread-index: AdFffH/vPC4jaePDSiW6Iyao0Kg9VQ== Thread-Topic: non medical home health care company performing medical procedures From: To: Subject: non medical home health care company performing medical procedures Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2016 13:47:29 -0500 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Microsoft CDO for Windows 2000 Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message Importance: normal Priority: normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.1.7601.17609 X-OriginalArrivalTime: 04 Feb 2016 18:47:29.0932 (UTC) FILETIME=[800C2CC0:01D15F7C] CUSTOM Ms. Tammy Robinson 2504 Stonesedge Blvd Little River SC 29566 Seashells_sandcastles@yahoo.com HEAL non medical home health care company performing medical procedures 24.168.251.11 Honorable Haley, Good afternoon,I was informed by my Congressman's office to contact the Governor's office for information or help about a non medical home health care agency having their caregivers perform medical procedures on clients, which violates their license. I use to work for a home health agency based in Pawleys Island that told us to perform medical care for clients that caregivers are not supposed to do if the company is non medical. The company stated that the caregivers were to give insulin shots to a diabetic client,to perform blood glucose testing and to dispense medications to her and to fill her med box. That goes against the medication reminders that the caregivers are actually supposed to do. The care givers are NOT supposed to touch medications whatsoever. I have saved the text messages stating from the home care office stating that I was to go against the the law and to perform the duties. After a few weeks I confronted them again and told them that the client's medication box needed to be filled because she was out of medication in the box, So I informed the client that she was out of medications in her box and that the office told me to dispense and administer the meds from the bottles and I told the client that I was sorry, but I can not do that by law and that I did not want to get in trouble if something went wrong by giving her the wrong medication, and the client was understanding and agreed with me that I should not administer and dispense the medications. I told that the case manager should come by to fill it since they do not have a nurse at the company because they are a non medical company. The case manager told me to do it and I refused stating that is was against the law for me to do so, then the office sent me a text telling me to do so as well. Again I refused because i refuse to break the law. Later that same day at the end of my shift I was told to call the office, so I did. and they told me that I was being let off of the case because I refused to administer and dispense medications to the client and I told the office manager that it was against the law for us to do so and she said that no one would know if I did, and I told her that I would know, and she said that I was too moral and it was ok if I gave them to her. I also told her that it is a non medical company and we are not allowed to do so, and that she even stated that in orientation that we are not allowed to even touch medications.. she also said that the case manager was not happy that she had to go out of her way to fill the med box, (when i told the case manager that she needed to have her med box filled several times that same week, and that the client was running low on her meds.)the office manager said that i should have done it. again, i told her it was against the law and that i do not want to lose my CNA license(even if it is from another state) or get fined or go to jail or all three. let alone if something went wrong with the client, then I would be liable. The client also had Therapists come work with her and noticed that the client needed medical care or a medicaid facility instead of a non medical home health agency. and that the caregivers should not be doing the procedures she needs to survive. I told the therapist I agree with her, but the office will not listen or even get back with me when questions arise about the client's care. The company even took over as her power of attorney and the client stated to me several times that she was not happy with the company and feels helpless. I have saved the text messages and took pictures on my cell phone of the medical items such as needles and medications and instructions as to the clients care. The caregivers use to communicate with each other and complain that we should not be doing this, and the client needs medical help, but nothing was ever done from the office and they know better and would never give me a care plan for the client when I asked for it because they know she needs medical help and they are not supposed to provide it. I had other caregivers tell me that the office even had them inject morphine into a client, and I know that is also not allowed, that is to be done by a nurse only, not a CNA or caregiver. I tried calling DHEC several times about the issue and to report them but no one called back so I talked with Congressman Rice's office and they said to try to contact Governor Haley's office by website or call by phone. However I can not call by phone as I have not had a job since I refused to disobey the law and administer medications and go beyond my scope of practice. Unfortunately there are a lot of home health agencies out there who do not care if they break the laws, and only care about taking money from their clients. I love what I do and I want to protect my clients from companies like this. The elderly deserve way better than this. They deserve to be listened to and respected not ignored and ripped off by greedy home health companies. I hope you can do something about this company and companies like them.. If you need to contact me for the name of the company or any other information, my name is Tammy Robinson and my email is Seashells_sandcastles@yahoo.com - Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Tammy Robinson