SJA Parent Handbook
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Welcome
Welcome to therapy services at Stanley Jones & Associates, Inc. (SJA). The following information describes SJA policies and procedures relating to the rehabilitation program. Please read this information carefully and continue to refer to it as needed. In addition, a copy will be kept in the magazine rack in the lobby at SJA.
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Philosophy
We believe that parents are the best teachers for their children; and that, for true learning to occur, children need to repeatedly explore, manipulate, experiment, and interact with others in a variety of settings. We like to think that our therapists provide the professional expertise and intense introduction of treatment ideas and techniques, and that they empower you, as parents, to carry out these ideas throughout your child’s week of play in your home and community.
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We have established our policies to help all of our clients get the most out of therapy.
Attendance
Parental Participation
We encourage you to participate in your child’s therapy session. However, some children work better without a parent’s constant presence. If that is the case, we ask that you be available for the last 10 minutes of your child’s therapy session so you have adequate time to meet with the therapist and discuss the content of the day’s therapy and things to work on at home. These consultations should take place in the therapy rooms for privacy reasons.
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Parental Presence
We are allowing caregivers to leave the premises during their child’s therapy session, but we require that the caregiver leave a contact number and location where he/she can be reached in case of emergency in our sign-out log. We still require that you return at least 10 minutes before the end of the scheduled session (which is typically no more than
45 minutes in length). We reserve the right to ask you to remain on site. This is likely to occur if your child becomes upset during your absence.
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Missed Visits
Missed visits are detrimental to achieving the goals of your child’s therapy program, and a pattern of missed visits may raise questions by the third party payer (your insurance). In addition, as a Medicare-certified and state licensed agency, we must strictly adhere to policies regulating physician orders for services. This includes meeting the number of visits the doctor has prescribed for your child weekly. If your child has missed three out of six recommended visits (as written on the physician’s orders) we will notify you that this has occurred and discuss this with you.
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Inclement Weather
In rare cases of extreme weather conditions, we will close our office. In those cases, we will notify you by phone. If you do not hear from us, our therapists will be expecting your child unless you call to cancel the appointment. We do not necessarily close our office when schools are closed!
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Canceling Appointments
Please call us as soon as possible if your child is unable to attend an appointment. As stated in our “Patient’s Rights and Responsibilities Service Agreement,” a charge may be made if an appointment is not changed or canceled at least 3 hours in advance of the scheduled time. Charges are more likely to be assessed if there is a pattern of failing to notify SJA of the need to cancel an appointment. The charge will be $20 if you fail to notify SJA in a timely manner. After hours an answering machine will accept your call. Please call 507-288-0064 and leave a message.
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Infection Control
We are trying to minimize the spread of illness by providing health guidelines.
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Hand Hygiene
Please wash your child’s hands prior to his/her therapy session. If you choose not to wash your child’s hands, our therapists may help your child use the waterless antiseptic hand cleanser in each therapy room.
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Illness
Please do not bring your child to therapy if he/she:
Has a temperature greater than 100° F during
Vomits in the 4 hours prior to the appointment
Has diarrhea during the 4 hours prior to the appointment
Has skin sores that are open and draining
Has an undiagnosed or contagious rash
Has chicken pox lesions that have not crusted over (5-7 days)
Has head lice that has not been treated
Is suspected of having a communicable disease
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Body Fluid/Diapering Procedures
Parents will be asked to change their child or assist with body fluid cleanup as needed. Please bring a change of clothing and undergarments/diapers as needed as we are unable to have a variety of clothing and/or diaper sizes available.
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Health Insurance Benefits
We will file insurance claims; however, you are responsible for verifying that your health insurance carrier will cover services you receive from us. If you need assistance verifying coverage, please feel free to contact us. Remember that you need to notify us if you change health insurance plans so that we bill correctly.
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In addition, be aware that your coverage of therapy services may change if your existing plan coverage changes. In the past, some plans have changed to deny coverage for therapy services, so it is important that you are aware of the terms of your coverage. You are responsible for any charges that your insurance does not cover. We may request that you verify your insurance coverage periodically.
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Thank you for choosing Stanley Jones & Associates, Inc.
for your child’s therapy services!
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