New HRST Protocol for PA Providers
The Health Risk Screening Tool (HRST) is like an early warning system for someone’s health. It helps doctors, nurses, and caregivers spot hidden health problems before they become serious emergencies. Instead of waiting for a person to get very sick, this tool helps teams and families take action early to prevent health emergencies. By tracking health changes over time, caregivers can make sure the people we support receive the exact care they need.
The tool works by having a caregiver answer a checklist of questions on a computer. There are 22 different health questions about things like how the person moves, how they behave, how often they see a doctor, and if they have any trouble eating or sleeping. To make it easy, the questions are simple “Yes” or “No” choices. This keeps things fair and stops people from just guessing about a person’s health. The system then looks at all the answers and counts points based on how serious each health issue is.
After looking at all the points, the software gives the person a Health Care Level from 1 to 6. A level 1 means the person is doing great and has very low risks, while a level 6 means they have high risks and need a lot of medical attention. Best of all, the tool automatically prints out a helpful “to-do list” for the caregiver. This list tells them exactly what kind of extra help the person needs, what training the staff should get, and when to call a specialist for an official checkup.
Pennsylvania’s Office of Developmental Programs updated the HRST protocol for PA providers. The new protocol can be found here: Revised 2026 PA Health Risk Screening Tool Protocol.
Assistance can also be obtained by contacting HRST support at pasupport@replacingrisk.com and paclinassist@replacingrisk.com.
