Hospice Management Advisor articles from February 2005

Hospice Management Advisor archives from February 2005

ICUs and dialysis centers present untapped opportunities for hospice: here's how to help these patients obtain more benefit from hospice services.
February 1, 2005... Patients who are dying during the course of intensive care or endstage renal disease could greatly benefit from referrals to hospices, even if such referrals are made within days of the patient's death, experts say. "Three days is the...

To enhance relationships with hospitals, dispel myths: Hospice director works to open eyes, minds.
February 1, 2005... Sometimes all it takes is a myth to prevent hospices from developing a more productive relationship with hospitals. For example, hospital staff might think a patient has to have the potential for home care in order to take advantage of...

Improve admission process by following best practices: cut costs and improve quality.
February 1, 2005... Admitting patients into hospice care is a significant challenge because of issues related to timing and making the first contact with the patient a pleasant experience. "It's also important because if you do it right, you'll probably get a...

Small changes for HHAs in new labor standards: salary/bonus ratio important; check state laws.
February 1, 2005... Changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that passed in 2004 still may be under fire from opponents, but experts say home health managers should not wait for any rollback of the rules. "The changes were made to bring clarity to...

JCAHO self-assessments to become yearly event: annual PPRs required beginning in 2006.(Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations)
February 1, 2005... Many home health managers initially were apprehensive about periodic performance reviews (PPR), the self-evaluation required by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations at the midpoint of an accreditation cycle....

Options to joint Commission periodic performance reviews.
February 1, 2005... In response to concerns of health care attorneys and risk managers that information contained in a health care organization's periodic performance review (PPR) may be discoverable in a legal action, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of...

Parents' skills crucial for pediatric patients: sicker patients increase value of assessment.
February 1, 2005... Home care agencies providing care to pediatric patients must pay careful attention to the competency of the parent caregiver to make sure he or she is ready for the challenge of caring for a child on a ventilator or a feeding tube. "The...

Protect patients' right to choose their own provider: patient choice must be free of duress.
February 1, 2005... Providers increasingly are concerned that physicians may violate their patients' right to freedom of choice of providers. First, it is important to note that long-term care, home health, home medical equipment, and hospice services are provided...