Specific Questions Continued

ADMISSION PLANNING

  1. What are the rights and responsibilities of people participating in this program? How does the program inform the individual of these? Can I have a copy?
  2. How do you make decisions about who to admit into the program?
  3. How will you get previous medical and other important (i.e., school) records and other information you may need in order to make this decision?
  4. I would like a proposed service or treatment plan before I decide. How can I get this?
  5. How do you involve the program or service I am in now in the admission and transition process?
  6. If I choose this program, what do you need to do prior to admission? How long will that take? What do You need me to do?
  7. How can I arrange to spend a half-day or day observing the program?
  8. What is your understanding of the role my funding source has in the decision-making process about the program I select?
  9. What forms or contracts am I expected to sign prior to admission?
  10. How can I get a copy of each to read thoroughly before I sign?

INVOLVEMENT OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS

The active involvement of family members and friends throughout the rehabilitation process is a key component to achieve maximum success.

  1. How does your program involve family members and friends?
  2. How are family members and friends involved in team meetings? How will we be informed enough in advance so we can plan to participate?
  3. What do I need to do to get copies of written reports regularly? Who is responsible for sending me these?
  4. How will you schedule regular conference calls for me to speak with the team if I cannot personally attend the meeting?
  5. If I have a question about a particular area (i.e., physical therapy), what do I need to do to speak with that therapist directly?
  6. What kind of family training, support groups and therapy is offered? Is there a charge for participation?
  7. Since I live far away, what overnight arrangements are made for me to visit for a few days? How about for the person's friends?
  8. What arrangements are made for staff to explain services and reports to me in non-technical terms?
  9. What is your policy about visitors?
  10. What are your policies which would affect friendships the person being served makes with other people served by your program? What provisions are made for them to spend time together as they might choose?
  11. What arrangements are made if we wish to have conjugal visits?

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS

  1. How does a legal settlement affect the program's expectations about payment?
  2. Has the program ever recommended guardianship, conservatorship or representative payees for people being served? Has the program ever recommended that these are no longer needed? If yes, what assistance is provided to the individual, family members or friends who choose to pursue the recommendation?
  3. Is the program licensed? By whom? How can I contact them to learn more about what they require for licensing? Can I see the license?
  4. When was the last state or local inspection and what were the results?
  5. Is the program CARF brain injury accredited? Any other CARF accreditation? When was the last survey?
  6. Is the program accredited by JCAHO? At what level (1 year, 3 year, type 1)? When was the last survey?
  7. What recourse does the person being served have if they question or disagree with the quality or necessity of services being provided?
  8. What recourse do family members and friends have if they question, or disagree with the quality or necessity of services received?
  9. What provisions are made for personal banking services? Where do you keep money that belongs to people being served in your program? How do you account for money which is put into your program's care and who is responsible for this accounting?