Hospice Management Advisor Archives – October 1, 2005
October 1, 2005
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Building residential hospice homes is trend that catches on nationwide
About one in five hospices in the United States operate an inpatient facility or residence, and the number of hospice homes is growing, hospice officials say. -
Hospices in two states add hospice home beds to better serve their communities
Hospices from coast to coast are expanding or building new hospice homes as part of a trend of providing inpatient or residential care to end-of-life patients. -
Improve staff's bedside manner with comprehensive tuck-in program
Sometimes a hospice's client satisfaction and staffing problems stem from repeated and often unnecessary off-hour calls by patients and families. -
Grief camp reaches children suffering silently from a loss
West Georgia Hospice in LaGrange, GA, decided eight years ago to answer the common questions clients and community members would ask about how to deal with children who've experienced a loss. -
Clinical managers ensure accuracy, speed payments
The biggest change made during the reorganization of Gaston Memorial Home Care in Gastonia, NC, was the multidisciplinary team approach in which nurses and therapists report to a clinical manager. Not only is this approach helpful for patient care management, but the streamlined approach makes it possible for the agency to file accurate Request for Anticipated Payments (RAPs) earlier than the old system that relied upon utilization review nurses to approve claims. -
Carelessness has a price in abuse investigations
Many providers generally are familiar with prohibitions against fraud and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, including Medicaid waiver programs. Fraud involving billing for services that were never actually provided may be especially familiar. -
JCAHO expectations for 2006 patient safety goals
Organizations accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations can see detailed implementation expectations for the 2006 National Patient Safety Goals on the Joint Commission web site. -
Educate social workers about pain and grief
While nurses and physicians have their roles to play in palliative care of dying patients, social workers also have a responsibility for assisting in pain management, experts say.