Wisconsin Feeding Assistant Training Program Update
PDF Version of DQA 08-021
(PDF, 34 KB)
Wisconsin Feeding Assistant Training Program Update
The Department has recently received a number of questions as to whether
licensed health care professionals are required to complete a feeding
assistant training program prior to assisting residents, who have no feeding
complications, with the activities of eating and drinking. This memo
provides clarification as to what extent the training requirement in 42
CRF 483.75(q) applies to licensed health professionals as defined in 42
CFR 483.75(e)(1).
A health professional working at a facility must not feed residents
unless the health professional has received appropriate training relating to
feeding, either in conjunction with the education for his or her
professional licensure or by successfully completing State-approved training
for a paid feeding assistant.
This memo contains important information on the following topics:
- Definition of Licensed Health Professional;
- Purpose of Feeding Assistant;
- Feeding Assistant Training Requirement Clarification; and
- Feeding Assistant Program Resources.
Definition of Licensed Health Professional
The definition of licensed health professionals in 42 CFR 483.75(e)(1)
includes physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, physical,
speech, or occupational therapists, physical or occupational therapy
assistants, registered professional nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses
(LPNs), and licensed or certified social workers. They are distinguished
from a nurse aide as defined in 42 CFR 483.75(e)(2). The nurse aide
definition excludes a feeding assistant.
Purpose of Feeding Assistant
The purpose of the feeding assistant is to supplement nurse aides and
licensed nursing staff. Section 42 CFR 483.35(h)(2) requires feeding
assistants to be supervised by RNs and LPNs. The requirement to complete a
State-approved training program for feeding assistants under 42 CFR
483.75(q), does not, therefore, apply to LPNs, RNs, or nurse practitioners.
"Paid feeding assistant" means a person who meets the
requirements specified in 42 CFR 483.35(h)(2), and is paid by the facility
to assist residents who have no complicated feeding problems with the
activities of eating and drinking. Complicated feeding problems include, but
are not limited to: difficulty swallowing, recurrent lung aspirations, and
tube or parenteral/IV feedings.
The feeding assistant is not permitted to provide any other nursing or
nursing related service. Paid feeding assistants must be at least 16 years
old. Facilities are prohibited from counting paid feeding assistants toward
their minimum staff requirements.
Feeding Assistant Training Requirement Clarification
A health professional working at the facility may not feed residents
unless the health professional has received appropriate training relating to
feeding, either in conjunction with the education for his or her
professional licensure or by successfully completing State-approved training
for a paid feeding assistant. Section 42 CFR 483.75(q) specifies the
training requirements for feeding assistants.
In comments published with the final regulations, CMS stated facilities
may consult a speech-language pathologist, i.e., a speech therapist, when a
resident is suspected to have, or is at risk for, swallowing difficulties.
This response implies that a speech therapist/speech-language pathologist
would have received appropriate training relating to feeding in conjunction
with the education for his or her professional licensure.
If the speech therapist/speech-language pathologist's training included
feeding and swallowing issues as part of their training for licensure, then
this individual would be able to assist appropriate residents with the
activities of eating and drinking without first completing a feeding
assistant training program.
The same would be true of physicians, physician assistants, physical or
occupational therapists, physical or occupational therapy assistants, and
licensed or certified social workers. They may assist residents who have no
feeding complications with the activities of eating and drinking without
first completing a feeding assistant training program, if the curriculum
they completed for their health professional credential included training
comparable to the training for a feeding assistant.
If, however, the curriculum for their health professional credential did
not include training comparable to the training for a feeding assistant,
they would need to successfully complete the training for a paid feeding
assistant before feeding residents.
Feeding Assistant Program Resources
Please access the website at http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/caregiver/FeedingAssistant/FeedingAsts.htm
for complete information.
If you have any questions, you may also contact the Office of Caregiver
Quality at (608) 261-8319, or
DHSCaregiverIntake@wisconsin.gov
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