What is grief?

What is grief?

by | Mar 18, 2024 | Grief & Loss - Aides, Grief & Loss - Nurses, Grief & Loss - Social Workers, Grief and Loss

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 person or thing they’ve lost. Whether it’s the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or a major life change, grief can affect individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Grief can manifest in various ways, including sadness, anger, guilt, confusion, and physical symptoms such as fatigue or changes in appetite.

Who experiences grief?

Anyone can experience grief, regardless of age, gender, or background. Grief is a universal human experience that affects people of all cultures and walks of life. Common triggers for grief include the death of a loved one, divorce or separation, the loss of a job, a serious illness or injury, or a significant life transition such as moving to a new city or retiring.

When is grief experienced?

Grief can be experienced at any time following a loss, and there is no set timeline for the grieving process. While some individuals may begin to experience grief immediately after a loss, others may not fully process their emotions until weeks, months, or even years later. Grief can also be triggered by anniversaries, holidays, or other significant reminders of the loss.

What are signs of grief?

Signs of grief can vary widely from person to person, but common symptoms may include:

  • Intense sadness or depression
  • Feelings of numbness or disbelief
  • Anger or irritability
  • Guilt or self-blame
  • Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
  • Changes in appetite or sleep patterns
  • Physical symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, or stomach problems

How can grief be treated?

While grief is a natural and unavoidable part of life, there are strategies that can help individuals cope with their loss and navigate the grieving process:

1. Allow yourself to feel:  It’s important to acknowledge and express emotions, even if they are painful or difficult to bear. A person who is grieving should give himself permission to grieve in his own way and at his own pace.

2. Seek support: : It is important that people who are grieving reach out to friends, family members, or a therapist for support. Talking about feelings with others who understand can provide comfort and validation. 

3. Take care of yourself:  Practicing self-care by eating well, exercising regularly, getting plenty of rest, and engaging in activities that bring joy and relaxation are important aspects to treating grief.

4. Honor the loved one:  Find ways to remember and honor the person who was lost. This could involve creating a memorial, participating in rituals or traditions, or finding meaningful ways to keep their memory alive. 

5.  Seek professional help:  A grieving person who is struggling to cope with the grief or who is experiencing prolonged or severe symptoms should consider seeking help from a mental health professional. Therapy or counseling can provide valuable support and guidance during the grieving process.

Grief is a natural and universal response to loss that affects individuals in different ways. By understanding what grief is, who experiences it, when it occurs, signs of grief, and strategies for coping, individuals can navigate the grieving process with greater resilience and self-compassion. Seeking support is often beneficial to many who are grieving – whether through bereavement groups, friends, or professional help. And it is important to remember that patience is required during the grieving process as it may take time to heal and find peace after loss.

End-of-Life Pain Management

End-of-Life Pain Management

by | Feb 25, 2024 | Patient Care, Teaching Tools

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 or undertreated pain results in needless suffering – due to physical pain and mental distress. However, family caregivers often have a difficult time assessing their loved one’s pain.  Further, they are often concerned with side effects of pain medications, including concerns of addiction to or tolerance of pain medications. Further, both patients and family caregivers often have trouble communication with the hospice team the degree and nature of pain that the patient is experiencing. This often leads to ineffective pain management and needless suffering in end-of-life.

What are some considerations when giving pain medication?

Respect

Respect the patient’s wishes regarding pain management. Understanding a patient’s goals and values guides the care team in providing personalized and compassionate care.

Consult

Pain medication decisions are made in consultation with the patient, considering their preferences, values, and goals for care.

Collaborate

The hospice team includes the primary physician, medical director, nurse, social worker, chaplain, hospice aide, caregivers, and patient. Everyone works together to create the right plan.

How should pain medication be administered and monitored?

Individualized and Regular Assessment

Pain medicine is administered based on individualized assessments of the patient’s pain levels. Regular assessments of pain are important for managing pain and ensuring the plan remains effective.

Address pain early

Addressing pain before it becomes too severe can contribute to more effective pain control and improved quality of life.

Communication

Encourage patients to communicate openly about their pain levels. This information is crucial for healthcare providers to make informed decisions about medication adjustments. Regular communication between caregivers and healthcare providers ensures an accurate understanding about the patient’s pain.

Low dose pain medicine

It is preferable to initiate low-dose medication to maintain alertness and minimize potential side effects.

Titration

Titrate pain medication up as needed, to achieve optimal pain relief. Regular assessments guide the titration process ensuring the right balance between pain control and functionality. Often a long-acting pain medication is given coupled with a breakthrough pain medication, if needed, to keep pain at or below goal level.

Timely administration

Administer pain medicine in a timely manner, adhering to the prescribed schedule. Consistent dosing helps maintain a baseline level of comfort.

Pain log

Use a pain log to track pain levels, related factors, what medicine was given, dosage of medication, and time medication was given.

Education

The hospice team should educate the patient and caregivers on the use of pain medication, including dosage, timing, and potential side effects.

Monitor

Monitor for potential side effects of pain medication and collaborate with the healthcare team to address any concerns. This includes a careful assessment of the patient’s overall well being.

Consider a holistic approach to pain management

Many hospice agencies advocate for a holistic approach to pain management, including physical, emotional, and spiritual care.  Alongside pain medications, this involves exploring and integrating non-pharmacological interventions such as massage, music therapy, aromatherapy, and relaxation techniques for a more comprehensive approach to pain relief.

Where can you find out more?

What is the Hospice Special Focus Program?

What is the Hospice Special Focus Program?

by | Feb 14, 2024 | Compliance and Regulatory - Directors, Regulatory Compliance

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 quality indicators, that place hospice beneficiaries at risk. These hospice agencies will then be subject to additional scrutiny and oversight to ensure that they meet Medicare requirements. The SFP is designed to either bring these programs into compliance or force them out of the Medicare program by terminating their Medicare status.

What is the origin of the Special Focus Program?

The hospice Special Focus Program was mandated in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. That is also when it was clarified that hospices would be surveyed every three years. All hospices now have had a survey since 2021. Some of that data is being used for the hospice Special Focus Program, which is designed to identify the worst performing hospices and either bring them into compliance or force them out of the program by terminating their Medicare status.

How is a hospice agency selected for inclusion in the Special Focus Program?

CMS uses an algorithm to identify the poor performing hospice agencies to include in the SFP. The algorithm combines data from a few data sources to score each of the hospice agencies. The score is based on data from: condition-level deficiencies in standard surveys, substantiated complaints, Hospice Care Index (HCI), and the CAHPS survey.  The algorithm does not stratify hospice agency based upon size or location; all hospice agencies are held to the same standard regardless of their size or location. The bottom 10% ranked hospice agencies (which are the hospice agencies with the highest algorithm score) are selected to be included in to the SFP. 

What is the impact of a hospice agency being included in the SFP?

Hospice agencies that are included in the SFP will be publicly reported on the SFP website.  SFP is a framework for increased oversight. The hospice agencies that are included in the SFP program will be surveyed more frequently — at least every six months.  CMS will determine what actions must be taken based upon the survey results.

How will a hospice agency exit the SFP?

A hospice will complete the SFP if in an 18-month time frame the hospice agency has no Quality of Care condition level deficiencies or immediate jeopardies for any two six month SFP surveys and has no pending complaints or have returned to substantial compliance with all requirements. The hospice will receive a letter from CMS that will indicate official completion of the program. If a hospice is unable to meet the completion criteria – due to inability to successfully pass surveys or continued complaints while on the SFP – it will be placed on the Medicare termination track.

Even as hospices work to improve their levels of quality and compliance, there will always be hospice agencies that fall in the lowest 10% of performance relative to their peers. Only by continually monitoring their quality performance and comparing these quality scores to peer performance can a hospice agency stay out of the lower 10% and off of the SFP list.

Where can you find out more?

Hospice Special Focus Program – CMS

What are the three key financial statements?

What are the three key financial statements?

by | Feb 12, 2024 | Budgeting, Financials

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 in accordance with a specific set of accounting rules called Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). GAAP ensures that financial statements are consistent and comparable across agencies. 

In some instances, agencies are required to follow GAAP in preparing their financial statements. For example, the financial statements that are submitted with hospice cost reports must be prepared in accordance with GAAP.

An agency’s financial statements describe the results of the agency’s operations and provide information about the agency’s assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses as well as cash flow activities. Together, this information provides a picture of the agency’s financial health and activities and can be used to monitor agency performance over time. An agency’s financial statements can also be used to support decision-making.

There are three key financial statements

The three key financial statements are the balance sheet, the income statement, and the cash flow statement.

The balance sheet provides a snapshot of the agency’s financial health at a given point in time. It lists the agency’s assets and liabilities as of the last day of a specified period, also known as its capital structure. The balance sheet will usually be produced on a quarterly basis.

The income statement, also known as the profit and loss statement, provides information on all the agency’s revenue and expenses during a specified period. The income statement is usually prepared quarterly, often as an aggregation of internal monthly ledgers, and is used to review revenue and expenses over the period. Subtracting expenses from revenues results in the agency’s profit, also called the net income.  

The cash flow statement details cash inflow and outflow over a specified time period. Cash flow statements are generally prepared quarterly and are separated into operating activities, investment activities, and financing activities. The cash flow statement, which tracks how the agency uses its cash over a period of time to fund operating expenses and investments and pay off its debt obligations, provides a view of the agency’s liquidity and cash sources and uses, which can provide insight into the ability of the agency to generate sufficient cash to support its operations over the near- and long-term horizon.

How can an agency director use financial statements?

Financial statements are critical to assess the financial viability of an agency, its capital structure, income generation and cash flow needs.  Financial statements can also be used to measure the impact of initiatives on the agency’s bottom line. Compare direct expenses to revenue, as reported on the income statement. Did revenue increase? Were expenses reduced? How did the net income compare to expectations?

Financial statements also provide information on agency spend and cash flows and can provide insight into how cash uses are allocated. Periodically reviewing expenses, when necessary on a line by line basis from the relevant internal ledgers, can provide visibility into potentially unnecessary costs and areas where expenses can be reduced and spend can be reallocated to more productive areas.

Analysis of financial statements can provide an overall agency view of revenue and expenses, identifying how different areas in the agency are contributing to overall financial performance.  This can support discussions with different area leads on goals and budgeting and helps management reassess overall agency performance. Financial statements can also be used to motivate and engage the agency’s teams. The income statement can show employees how their activities impact revenue, providing them with an understanding of how they can directly impact agency financial health. Remember, only a financially strong agency can deliver improved patient services and higher quality of care.

Where can you find out more?

Financial statements as a management tool

Business owner perspective on financial statements

Hospice Length of stay – active or discharged patients?

Hospice Length of stay – active or discharged patients?

by | Mar 22, 2023 | Compliance and Regulatory - Directors, Metrics and KPIs, Rules and Regulations - Nurses, Rules and Regulations - Office Team

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 monitored for both very short length of stay as well as for length of stay that is longer than the norm.

What may unusual length of stay tell a hospice provider?

When patients are discharged alive with a short length of stay it may signal that the patient did not understand the hospice benefit when the patient was admitted to hospice. Or, patients may discharge live from hospice after just a few days because they were not satisfied with the services delivered by the hospice provider. Patients with length of stay longer than 180 days could be indicative of a patient who is no longer hospice eligible.  Patients who are no longer eligible for service should be discharged from hospice and any payments that were received from Medicare while the patient was no longer eligible for services should be returned to Medicare. Failure to discharge the patient or failure to return the funds are examples of fraud and abuse.

How is length of stay calculated?

Length of stay is calculated based on the number of days that a patient receives hospice care. Specifically, for a patient who is discharged from hospice (whether or not the patient is discharged alive), the patient length of stay is calculated as follows:

Patient length of stay = [patient discharge date]-[patient admission date]+1

Which patients are included in length of stay calculation?

The length of stay calculation assumes that only discharged patients are considered in the calculation – since the formula expressly refers to the patient discharge date. When only discharged patients are considered (whether live discharges or discharges due to death), the hospice provider only has a backward-looking view on performance relating to length of stay. For example, if a hospice provider has been providing service to a patient for 12 months and the patient is still on service, the patient will not be included in the traditional average length of stay metric – since the patient has not yet been discharged. On the other hand, once the patient is discharged the patient’s length of stay will be at least 365 days since the patient – while still currently active – has already been on service for 365 days.  If active patients are considered in a length of stay calculation, it gives a hospice provider a metric that can be used to highlight patients whose clinical charts and documentation of care may benefit from additional review.

What length of stay metrics should be calculated?

In addition to computing average and median length of stay based on discharged patients only, average and median length of stay can be computed for active patients. Patient length of stay for an active patient is calculated as follows:

Active patient length of stay = [end of evaluation period date]-[patient admission date]+1

For example, suppose the current date March 15, 2023 and a hospice wishes to calculate the active patient length of stay as of the end of 4Q 2022 for a patient who was admitted on December 1, 2022. The calculation is as follows:

  • End of evaluation period date: 12/31/22
  • Patient admission date: 12/1/22
  • Active patient length of stay = (12/31/22) – (12/1/22) + 1 = 31 days

The active patient length of stay as of the end of 4Q 2022 is 31 days.

If the hospice wishes to calculate the active patient length of stay as of current date, the calculation is as follows:

  • End of evaluation period date: 3/15/23
  • Patient admission date: 12/1/22
  • Active patient length of stay = (3/15/23) – (12/1/22) + 1 = 105 days

Average and median length of stay would be computed as usual.  If any concerning value — such as long length of stay – is identified based upon the active patient length of stay, a hospice provider can immediately investigate and determine if any remediation action is required, rather than waiting until patients are discharged. Delay can lead to additional fines or further action from Medicare.