In recent years, there has been a growing interest in exploring alternative therapies for patients in hospice care, and one such option that has gained attention is the use of marijuana. This...
Could hospice be a hopeful word
Outside my office door right now, a group is meeting and discussing what they miss about their loved ones. There is a reality that everyone dies and that everyone who has ever loved will grieve. So...
Anticipatory Grief: Coping with Loss Before It Happens
Anticipatory grief, also referred to as anticipatory loss or preparatory loss, is a unique form of mourning that occurs before the actual loss takes place. It is the feeling of loss that is felt...
What is grief?
Grief is the emotional, psychological, and physical response to loss. It is a natural process that helps individuals come to terms with the reality of their loss and adjust to life without the...
End-of-Life Pain Management
People with terminal illness experience pain at the end of life and for many, this pain goes untreated. One of the key elements of hospice care is effectively managing the patient’s pain. Untreated...
What is the Hospice Special Focus Program?
The hospice Special Focus Program (SFP) is conducted by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The objective of this program is to identify poor performing hospice agencies, based upon...
What are the three key financial statements?
Financial statements record an agency’s financial activities and convey the agency’s financial health. Financial statements are often audited by accountants to ensure their accuracy and are prepared...
Hospice Length of stay – active or discharged patients?
Patient length of stay is monitored to detect instances of inappropriate use of the hospice benefit or other deficiencies in the services delivered by the hospice provider. Length of stay is...
Average length of stay versus median length of stay
Patients are eligible for hospice if they have a terminal diagnosis and a prognosis of six or fewer months to live if their disease runs its natural course. A patient who lives longer than six...