Iowa Code Title IV. Public Health [Chs. 123-158] § 144F.2. Discharge policies--opportunity to designate lay caregiver

1. a. A hospital shall adopt and maintain evidence-based discharge policies and procedures. At a minimum, the policies and procedures shall provide for an assessment of the patient's ability for self-care after discharge and, as part of the assessment, shall provide a patient, or if applicable the patient's legal representative, with an opportunity to designate one lay caregiver prior to discharge of the patient.

b. A legal representative who is an agent under a durable power of attorney for health care pursuant to chapter 144B shall be given the opportunity to designate a lay caregiver in lieu of the patient's designation of a lay caregiver only if, consistent with chapter 144B, in the judgment of the attending physician or attending physician assistant, the patient is unable to make the health care decision. A legal representative who is a guardian shall be given the opportunity to designate a lay caregiver in lieu of the patient's designation of a lay caregiver to the extent consistent with the powers and duties granted the guardian pursuant to sections 232D.401 and 232D.402 or section 633.635.

a. Record in the patient's medical record the designation of the lay caregiver, in accordance with the hospital's policies and procedures, which may include information such as the relationship of the lay caregiver to the patient, and the name, telephone number, and address of the lay caregiver.