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Face-to-face encounters with patients now required for recertification

Reviewing patient data, finding physician coverage and educating staff are some of the activities undertaken by hospices since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act mandated the requirement that hospices have a physician see a patient in a "face-to-face encounter" before their 180-day recertification and for each 60-day recertification.

Requirements for face-to-face encounter

Effective compliance with the requirements of the face-to-face encounter now in place for certifications of patients receiving the hospice benefit requires attention to proper documentation of the visit.

Notify patients of face-to-face visits

The most important steps for a hospice manager to take to be sure hospice patients entering their third and subsequent benefit periods is to expand or initiate new contracts with physicians to provide coverage for the face-to-face encounters, says Sandy Kuhlman, executive director of Hospice Services in Phillipsburg, KS.

Education, recognition, support boost retention

This is the second of a two-part series that examines strategies for employee retention. Last month we looked at the importance of patient satisfaction surveys and exit interviews. This month, we look at specific programs that enhance retention.

Do doctors, consumers agree about hospice?

Physicians say that hospice is great, but there's too little service, and it's offered too late. That's one of the top findings of a new national survey conducted to compare attitudes and perceptions about hospice care among consumers and physicians.

Surrogate decision-makers want full authority

The decision to stop life-support for incapacitated and critically ill patients is, for surrogate decision-makers, often fraught with moral and ethical uncertainty, and long-term emotional consequences.

Nationwide recall of Triton infusion pump

WalkMed Infusion of Englewood, CO, is initiating a nationwide recall of a total of 2,018 Triton Pole Mount Infusion Pumps. The pumps have been found to possibly have a problem with the pump door open alarm, which potentially could result in over infusion of medication.

ED program targets end-of-life patients

An emergency department (ED) program designed to serve the terminally ill? It makes perfect sense to Mark Rosenberg, DO, MBA, FACEP, chairman of emergency medicine at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson, NJ. So much so, in fact, that his department recently introduced Life-Sustaining Management and Alternative (LSMA) services. The program is designed to provide comfort, control, and choices for chronic and terminally ill patients and their loved ones.

Case shows hospital met patient's request

A recent case in the ED at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson, NJ, shows the value of its new Life-Sustaining Management and Alternative (LSMA) services, says Mark Rosenberg, DO, MBA, FACEP, chairman of emergency medicine and co-creator of the program.

Some EOL care is not adequate

Shortness of breath in terminally ill patients is often managed poorly, says Mark Rosenberg, DO, MBA, FACEP, chairman of emergency medicine at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson, NJ, and co-creator of its new Life-Sustaining Management and Alternative (LSMA) program.

Impact of human factors on home health quality

A new report funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) examines the impact of human factors on home health care quality and safety.

Study shows hospice accessible

Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that 98% of the U.S. population lives in communities within 60 minutes of a hospice provider, which suggests that disparities in use of hospice are not likely due to a lack of access to a hospice provider.

Acupuncture helps cancer treatment

Recent studies have shown that acupuncture can help control several symptoms and side effects such as pain, fatigue, dry mouth, nausea, and vomiting associated with a variety of cancers and their treatments.

News Briefs

Hospice Management Advisor Archives – January 1, 2011

January 1, 2011