COMMUNITY HEALTH

C-O-N-N-E-C-T-I-O-N-S

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

I’ve mostly heard the term “Mental Retardation” used.  But, I notice you use the terms Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Are these terms referring to the same thing?

What is the Health Care Quality Unit (HCQU)?

What is the Health Risk Profile (HRP)?

How are the names of individuals selected for the HRP?

Who is responsible for scheduling the HRP?

Who needs to be present when the HRP is being completed?

After the nurse finishes the HRP, what happens?

Why is the HRP important?

I work for a Personal Care Home. May I attend your trainings for free?

I work for a Personal Care Home. Will you come to my location to train?

I work for a Personal Care Home. Will our licensing body recognize trainings I receive from the HCQU?

I work for a Personal Care Home. Do you provide Technical Assistance to us?

Do you provide training and technical assistance for children with Developmental Disabilities?

Q: I’ve mostly heard the term “Mental Retardation” used.  But, I notice you use the terms Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Are these terms referring to the same thing?

A: Yes, but without the pejorative connotation that has come to be associated with a label of Mental Retardation.  The names have changed to communicate a more accurate and positive perspective. Our HCQU is reflecting what has been occurring in our state and also nationally. For example, the Office of Mental Retardation (OMR) is now called: The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP). The American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR) recently changed its name to: The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD). Our HCQU now uses the term Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD) to reflect what familiarly has been known as Mental Retardation (MR).

Q: What is the Health Care Quality Unit (HCQU)?

A: Health Care Quality Units (HCQU) provide leadership and coordination to enable county programs in collaboration with the State Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) to assure the highest achievable level of physical and behavioral health to individuals served.  HCQUs work to support and improve the state intellectual and developmental disability (ID/DD) community system by building capacity and competency to meet the physical and mental health care needs of people with ID/DD living in Pennsylvania.  The primary activities of HCQUs include: assessing individual health and systems of care, providing clinical health care expertise to counties, residential, and day program providers; conducting health related training; and integrating community health care expertise.  The ultimate goal of the HCQU is to assure that the individuals served by each county program are as healthy as they can be, so that each can fully participate in community life.

Q: What is the Health Risk Profile (HRP)?

A:  The Health Risk Profile (HRP) is an instrument designed to gather information about the health, health care services, and health risks for individuals that receive Intellectual and Developmental Disability (ID/DD) services. The process involves gathering, verifying, communicating and analyzing both physical and mental health data.  While the HRP provides individual data, it is not a comprehensive diagnostic instrument for individual health problems.  Nor does it provide a comprehensive picture of the individual’s health status.  It may identify areas of risk requiring further evaluation by the individual’s primary care giver.  However, it is intended to provide information about the current state of health of the population of Pennsylvanians with Intellectual and Developmental Developmental Disabilities. The Health Care Quality Unit (HCQU) will conduct the HRP each year based on a random sample of names drawn by the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP). 

Q: How are the names of individuals selected for the HRP?

A: Every year a random sample of individuals receiving ID/DD services is drawn from HCSIS at the state level for the HRP process. 

Q: Who is responsible for scheduling the HRP?

A: The HCQU nurse is responsible for contacting the provider to schedule an appointment for an on-site visit to conduct the HRP. 

Q: Who needs to be present when the HRP is being completed?

A: The HCQU nurse only requires access to medical charts to complete a HRP. However, having a Program Specialist available to answer questions at that time or at a later date is appropriate. The face-to-face portion of the HRP is usually scheduled and completed separately.

Q: After the nurse finishes the HRP, what happens?

A:  The health information gathered is entered into HCSIS. When all HRPs are entered and finalized, the data is analyzed to identify any trends or patterns affecting this population.

Q: Why is the HRP important?

A: Because the HRP sample is statistically significant, reasonable conclusions about the health and safety of the wider population of Pennsylvanians with ID/DD may be identified. This provides a reliable basis for implementing meaningful and effective health and education initiatives.

Q: I work for a Personal Care Home. May I attend your trainings for free?

A: Yes

Q: I work for a Personal Care Home. Will you come to my location to train?

A: We are not currently able to deliver training on site to Personal Care Homes. However, we heartily welcome all those who work in Personal Care Homes to attend our Syllabus Trainings which are delivered at prearranged locations throughout our region.
There are numerous locations and topics from which to choose.  Please call us at 724-283-0990 or email us at info@hcqu.org for more information. Our friendly staff will be glad to assist you.

Q: I work for a Personal Care Home. Will our licensing body recognize trainings I receive from the HCQU?

A: Usually.  If the training you attend relates to your work, you can expect to receive Human Service Training Hours for that training. If the training is a topic unrelated to your work, you may not be granted Training Hours for that training. Be certain to keep proper documentation related to your training to assure that you receive credit.

Q: I work for a Personal Care Home. Do you provide Technical Assistance to us?

A: If the request is related to serving someone with ID/DD, the HCQU may be able to respond. This depends on the availability of our staff since we are primarily responsible to serve agencies that provide care to the population with ID/DD. 

Q: Do you provide training and technical assistance for children with Developmental Disabilities?

A: Only on very rare occasions. This may occur for someone who is near adulthood and the HCQU is particularly suited to address the need. We are trained to address adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. For children, we would refer you to an appropriate resource better able to address the needs of children with ID/DD.