Special projects and/or services are provided under the direction of county offices of mental retardation, within the context of specific county initiatives.

• Community Health Reviews: PCHC nurses conduct a thorough assessment of an individual’s health status at the individual’s home. The evaluation includes a comprehensive record review, information exchange with involved caregivers, consideration of environmental and lifestyle issues and review of the individual’s physical health status. A detailed report is produced offering suggestions and recommendations to best support the individual’s health and to promote a healthy lifestyle.
  
  
• Medical Records System Evaluation and the HIRS Format: PCHC staff visits agencies providing residential services to assess the format, content and usability of the medical record keeping system in place. Recommendations are provided, as well as the presentation of a standardized medical record keeping format for implementation. The standardized medical record keeping system, the Health Information Recording System (HIRS), meets the needs of licensing entities, communicates information among health care professionals in a format with which they are familiar and is also more practical for use by staff supporting the individual. The auto-HIRS is a pc-based version of the system designed for use in the residential home. The FAM-HIRS is a record keeping format designed specifically for use in the family home.
  
  
• Agency-based Systems Review: PCHC staff visit agencies requesting an evaluation of their internal health care support systems. The organizational structure around health care is reviewed and a report is produced on findings. Recommendations and suggestions for further enhancing those supports are offered. PCHC staff work along with agency staff to re-design or adjust systems to better support the health care needs of the individuals they serve. A specific review instrument exists for the evaluation of behavioral health supports in the mental retardation service delivery system
  
  
• Philadelphia and Suburban County Nurse’s Networks: PCHC convenes meetings for nurses from agencies providing services to individuals with mental retardation. These forums serve to promote communication, networking and information sharing among nursing professionals who many times face very complex health situations which traditional nursing practices often does not address. A training component is involved with most meetings
  
  
• Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Nurses Network (PADDNN): PCHC staff are involved in facilitating the quarterly meeting of developmental disabilities nurses in Pennsylvania with the goal of information sharing, networking and professional support.
  
  
• Managed Care Support, Training and Facilitation: PCHC’s Health Care Technical Assistance staff maintain and disseminate current information on Pennsylvania’s HealthChoices Medicaid managed care program to people with mental retardation and those who support them in the southeastern region of Pennsylvania. Technical assistance is provided in identifying the most appropriate managed care supports, facilitating service delivery and access.
  
  
• Form Design, Survey Assessments, Data Review: PCHC provides assistance to state, county and local organizations who may need to evaluate services, supports or individual issues relating to health care. Forms, evaluation protocols, and survey instruments have been designed and used to help arrive at substantive information, from which further action can be taken. Reporting on that data has been invaluable in assessing and addressing health issues for people with mental retardation.
  
  
• Team Review of Psychotropic Medications: PCHC has produced system of evaluation of psychotropic medications for individuals with mental retardation and co-occurring mental illness. The process involves a 3-page form which promotes communication among health care providers, behavioral health providers and agency staff and has been quite successful in identifying potential problems in this area and allows better monitoring of this complex area of support.
  
  
• Training for Individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities(I/DD): Small group trainings in health related topics for the person with I/DD, can be completed at work/day program or home.
  
  
• Community Hospital Outreach: Training which provides information to hospital staff regarding interacting with individuals with I/DD, their system of supports, and the MR service delivery system in order to obtain the best outcome during hospitalization.
  
  
• DD Nursing Guidebook: A guide for nurses who are new to the field of developmental disabilities nursing. It provides an overview of the MR Service System, best practices guidelines, nursing responsibilities, reference material and other important information for this specialized field of nursing.