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handing the patient the medication bottle or medications prepared under the supervision of a registered nurse or a physician;

(7) report changes in the patient’s condition and needs, and complete appropriate records; and

(8) take and record vital signs. (c) A home health agency shall provide and document orientation of a home health aide within the two weeks immediately following that aide’s employment. Orientation must include information on the following matters:

(1) applicable state and federal law and the policies and procedures of the agency;

(2) duties of the home health aide;

(3) functions of other health personnel employed by the agency and how they relate to each other in the care of the patient;

(4) coordination of services within the agency and community services; and

(5) ethics and confidentiality. (d) A registered nurse, or therapist providing service under 7 AAC 12.521, shall make a supervisory visit to the patient’s residence at least once every two weeks, either to observe and assist when the aide is present, or to assess relationships and determine whether goals identified in the plan of care are being met. The registered nurse or therapist must directly observe the in-home performance of each home health aide at least once every three months. (e) A home health agency shall provide a home health aide with 12 hours of inservice training each calendar year based on the training needs identified through supervisory visits and the needs of patients being served by the home health agency. A home health agency shall provide training for all care duties not included in the basic competency skills identified in (f) of this section. (f) A home health agency shall maintain sufficient documentation to demonstrate that an individual who furnishes home health aide services is competent in the skills identified in this subsection. Before providing services to patients, a home health aide shall be evaluated for competency in each of the following areas:

(1) communication;

(2) observation, reporting, and documentation of the patient care provided;

(3) maintenance of a clean, safe, and healthy environment;

(4) provision of basic infection control procedures;

(5) knowledge of basic nutrition and fluid intake, including food preparation techniques as appropriate;