News for Long-Term Care Workers
Updated January 2022
CareLearn has created the HCA Skills Practice Procedure Video library
Within the CareLearn (Sumtotal Application) library, CareLearners now have access to video demonstrations of personal care skills being performed. The skills depicted within this video series are the same skills taught by training programs on the job or by community instructors using the Fundamentals of Caregiving curricula or other DSHS approved training materials.
Whether CareLearners are needing to review the step by step procedure of a skill for a new client, or they simply want a quick refresher on how to perform a skill for their HCA Prometric's test they can now watch these videos at their convenience on a desktop or mobile device.
CareLearnWA.com now has User How To Walk Through videos
CareLearn Administrators have added video tutorials on certain CareLearn functions to our Access CareLearn webpage.
Below the written instructions to request an account, future CareLearners may now watch an administrator submit a new account request form, log into Carelearn for the first time, search for and take a training, print a diploma and much more.
Images above: List of HCA Skills Procedures videos now available in CareLearn
Updated December 2021
CareLearn Enhancements Continue to Improve User Experiences
Within the CareLearn (Sumtotal Mobile Application), CareLearners may now use the Library feature. Instead of using the search option mobile users may now review courses by topics and categories to identify the learning materials that meet their needs prior to registering for that class. Instructions on how to use the new feature have been added to the How To Use Carelearn Library, and a PDF version can now be downloaded by visiting our Access CareLearn webpage.
The libraries themselves have also been updated. The menu was re-structured by making the How to Use CareLearn Library more prominent. Administrators also created a new library called Courses By Category. Within this library all courses were organized into related category topics to allow for easier searching.
This month administrators have added another library called the Caregiver Document Hub. This library consists of downloadable caregiver resource documents. None of the documents within this library provide continuing education credit, however, they provide CareLearners the ability to take home knowledge that may be beneficial for future use.
In addition to the modifications outlined above, Carelearn administrators are continually adding new trainings to the online library. Since July, Carelearn has added 13 DSHS continuing education (CE) approved courses that offer a combined total of 62.5 hours of CE credits to users. Course titles and available credits can be seen below:
Personal Care - 5.5 CE units
Direct Support Professionalism - 3.5 CE units
Person-Centered Planning - 4 CE units
Introduction to Medication Support - 7.5 CE units
Individual Rights and Choice - 4 CE units
Professional Documentation - 3.25 CE units
Understanding Depression - 3 CE units
You've Got A Friend: A Course On Relationships - 3.5 CE units
Universal Precautions - 3.25 CE units
Working With Families and Support Networks - 3 CE units
Supporting Healthy Lives - 8 CE units
Understanding Transitions Across The Lifespan - 5.5 CE units
Introduction to Mental Health and Mental Illnesses - 8.5 CE units
Images above: mobile app menu wit and current CareLearn Libraries(updates indicated in red.)
Updated November 2021
The Washington State Department of Health’s Behavioral Health Group is pleased to offer November trainings for PsySTART Responder (PsySTART-R).
PsySTART-R is an evidence-based method for healthcare workers, first responders, and healthcare systems to build resilience, anticipate and track stressors, and develop individualized coping plans during critical incidents. After training, individuals set up their personal PsySTART account online, allowing them to track and graph their exposure to certain events that are more predictive of psychological risk, and set up a personal coping plan to address the risks. Only the individual can see and access their triage information. Note: Users may need to update their accounts after system updates occur.
Additionally, organizational leads can access de-identified, aggregated information on how their staff are doing and their risk levels. This information can be tracked to identify trends in real time, allowing the organization to modify levels of support and offer early intervention as needed. This provides situational awareness and builds resilience within the organization.
Training Details
No cost to you or your organization
Held virtually in Zoom Webinar
No more than 30 minutes
Taught by professionals with disaster response expertise
Training Dates
To register, please select one of the dates below.
Tuesday, Nov 9, 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Friday, Nov 12, 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov 16, 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov 19, 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
About the Behavioral Health Group
Since March 2020, the COVID-19 Behavioral Health Group has worked to address the behavioral health impacts of COVID-19 by leading the statewide behavioral health response efforts. The group provides situational awareness on behavioral health impacts and capacity, works to build capacity to support long-term behavioral health needs, and provides tools and subject matter expertise on disaster behavioral health principles to promote emotional wellbeing. Due to the generosity of and the compassionate use offered by the Psy-START developer, Dr. Merritt Schreiber, the Behavioral Health Group is providing this program free of cost.
Updated October 2021
DSHS has filed emergency rules for certification deadlines and resumption of training.
House Bill 1120 gave DSHS statutory authority to extend timelines for training requirements during a State of Emergency. DSHS, including ALTSA/HCS/RCS and DDA, in collaboration with with the Department of Health (DOH), has reached agreement on training and certification timelines.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AND DO:
Unless a worker is exempt from training as described in WAC 388-71-0839or WAC 388-112A-0090, employees hired during the COVID-19 emergency must complete basic training, and required specialty trainings as displayed. Workers who are required to be certified as home care aides must obtain certification as displayed. Please encourage all employees who need training/certification to begin the process as soon as possible.
(*A long-term care worker is considered “rehired” if they held previous employment as a long-term care worker and did not have an active home care aide credential when hired during the time frames outlined above.)
If a long-term care worker is limited-English proficient, the worker may request an additional sixty days to obtain certification.
Emergency Rule for Continuing Education (CE) Training
We know that there are workers who were unable to complete required CE since training requirements were suspended. The department also recognizes that long-term care workers employed during the COVID-19 pandemic required emergent, intensive, and ongoing on-the-job training in the use of PPE, sanitation, health screening and more.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
All long-term care workers employed for any duration between March 1, 2020, and February 28, 2021are granted twelve hours of DSHS-approved continuing education credit for the training entitled "COVID-19 On-The-Job Training Protocols," bearing the DSHS approval code CE2135218.
No physical certificate for this training will be issued or required.
The hours must be applied as any other continuing education hours and to a single renewal period as provided in chapter 246-12 WAC.
ADDITIONALLY: All long-term care workers will have one hundred-twenty days from the end of the public health emergency to complete any additional CE that may have become due while training waivers were in place in excess of the twelve hours of CE granted for on-the-job training.
EXAMPLE: Caregiver with birthday in December
December 2018-December 2019 = Caregiver was in compliance
December 2019 – December 2020 = 6 hours earned somehow = caregiver has 120 days after the PHE ends to make up the other six.
December 2020 – 2021= Covered completely by COVID CE
December 2021-2022= Twelve more hours needed.
If you have questions, contact:
Dave Chappell
david.chappell@dshs.wa.gov
(360) 725-2516
