Parish Health Ministry: A Primer for Parish Involvement
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Section Two: The Parish Nurse Within Parish Health Ministry
What insurance and liability issues need to be addressed?
Listed below are the insurance requirements and guidelines for parish health ministry as provided by the Protected Self-Insurance Program of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
I. Who is covered?
Insurance coverage is dependent upon which option a parish chooses to provide health ministry. If the parish contracts with an agency or hospital/care center, the parish nurse must provide proof that he or she is covered by that organization's professional liability insurance. Additionally, the outside agency or hospital must name the parish and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee as an additional insured under the hospital's/nurse's professional liability coverage. If the parish chooses this option, contact Catholic Mutual in Milwaukee (414-255-6906) for more information on insurance requirements.
If a parish chooses to directly employ a parish nurse or to utilize the volunteer services of a parish nurse, then the parish and the parish nurse are automatically covered by The Archdiocese of Milwaukee Protected Self-Insurance Program. This coverage only applies while the nurse is working or volunteering for the parish (not while the parish nurse is working for other organizations).
Please note that there is no insurance coverage through the Protected Self-Insurance Program for a physician participating in a parish's health ministry program.
II. Pre-screening for parish nurse employees and volunteers
The parish could be held liable for failure to verify credentials and perform background checks. Considering the nature of parish nursing and the potential high risks involved with a parish health ministry program, verification of credentials and background checks must be performed on parish nurses who are employed or who volunteer.
The credential check must:
- Verify that the parish nurse has a valid license as a registered professional nurse in the state in which the nurse practices.
The background check must include the following:
- Both employment references and personal references.
- A criminal background check.
- Driver record check. (Catholic Mutual will do this free of charge, 414-225-6906.)
It is very important that the parish verify the nursing license along with performing the background checks. Failure to do so will greatly increase the parish's liability associated with the parish health ministry program. If the parish contracts with an agency or hospital/care center for nursing services, verify that the agency or hospital/care center has performed credential and background checks.
III. Risk and liability concerns
There may be liability concerns associated with a parish health ministry program. The most common allegation against a parish nurse would be that he or she overstepped the boundaries of their professional expertise. Adhering to the following guidelines will assist in reducing liability for a parish's health ministry program.
- All parish nurses must be licensed as registered nurses, be agraduate of an accredited nursing program and a graduate of a parish nurse preparation program.
- Parish nurses must keep records on all parishioner-clients. The records are confidential between the client and parish nurse and should be kept in a locked cabinet. Even though a parish nurse may be reporting to the pastor/parish director or business administrator, the records are confidential unless otherwise released with the client's written permission.
- A parish nurse cannot provide a medical diagnosis. Appropriate procedures should be followed for referral to physicians and other healthcare providers as needed.
- All abuse involving minors must be reported to the appropriate governmental agency.
- All abuse involving adults must be reported to the appropriate governmental agency.
- A parish nurse cannot dispense medication. This includes non prescription or over-the-counter medication.
- All acts delegated within the scope of professional nursing to an LPN or less skilled assistant must be in compliance with the State of Wisconsin's Department of Regulation and Licensing.
IV. Liability involving transportation
Most parish nurses will use their own automobile to carry out certain nursing activities. The Protected Self-Insurance Program provides an excess liability policy over and above a nurse's personal automobile liability policy. However, parish nurses need to maintain liability coverage levels of $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident in order for the excess coverage to apply.
Health and healthcare are subjects that profoundly touch the lives of us all. One's ability to live a fully human life and to reflect the unique dignity thatbelongs to each person is greatly affected by health. Not only far individuals, but likewise for society at large, health issues take in important significance because of the intimate role they play in personal and social development.
For the Church, health and the healing apostolate take on a special stgn(ficance because of the Chuirh's long tradition of involvement in this area and because the Church considers healthcare to be a basic human right which flows from the sanctity of human life.
Down through the centuries the Church has carried on the work of healing through diverse forms and structures. The Church community from its earliest days has provided hospitable places of care and comfort for those in need of healing. Those who are ill, orphaned, widowed, poor; homeless, handicapped, or otherwise in need have found the gentle healing touch of the Lord in Church-sponsored programs and institutions.
These examples of healing ministry form a rich heritage which we must confidently and gratefully renew and adapt to the needs of today.
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Health and Health Care (1981) paragraphs 1,2,9
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