You need to train your staff members on age-specific competencies. During staff orientations, pin down what the new employee will do in your organization and what he or she will need to know to do that job, Dill advises. Be sure you assess his or her competency, addressing the ages of the patients that person will serve. Employees must know the human development and age-specific needs of the population you serve in your facility. You need to develop a system to conduct periodic competency assessments of your staff members.
Many facilities have job descriptions and some kind of competency evaluation.
In the job descriptions, you can include a listing of what age groups staff members should be knowledgeable. And not only must you have a system in place to conduct periodic assessments, you must document the results for each employee, whether you use an annual evaluation or a skills test. And consider this During an accreditation survey, surveyors may also evaluate whether your leaders considered the age-specific growth and development needs of patients for defining job qualifications. This includes the laboratory technician who will draw a patient's blood and the radiology technician who will take x-rays. They will look at job descriptions and could also look at your orientation curriculum, Dill says.