Hospice Analysis and Management
Hospice care is a type of palliative care that provides comfort and support to patients with terminal illnesses and their families. Hospice care aims to improve the quality of life of the patients and relieve their physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering. Hospice care can be provided in various settings, such as the patient’s home, a hospice facility, a hospital, or a nursing home.
Hospice care is not only beneficial for the patients, but also for their caregivers and the health care system. Hospice care can reduce the burden and stress of caregiving, enhance the communication and coordination among the health care team, and lower the costs of health care by reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and interventions (Casarett et al., 2020). Hospice care can also increase the patient’s satisfaction and dignity, as well as their family’s bereavement outcomes (Wright et al., 2020).
However, hospice care also faces some challenges and barriers that limit its accessibility and quality. Some of these challenges include:
– Lack of awareness and education about hospice care among the public and health care professionals, which leads to misconceptions, stigma, and late referrals (Bakitas et al., 2020).
– Insufficient funding and reimbursement for hospice care, which affects the availability and sustainability of hospice services and staff (Campbell et al., 2020).
– Regulatory and administrative requirements that restrict the eligibility and flexibility of hospice care, such as the six-month prognosis criterion, the cap on hospice days, and the need for physician certification (Meier et al., 2020).
– Ethical and cultural issues that influence the decision-making and preferences of patients and families regarding hospice care, such as religious beliefs, family values, and cultural norms (Kavalieratos et al., 2020).
Therefore, hospice analysis and management is essential to evaluate the current status and performance of hospice care, identify the gaps and needs of hospice care, and implement strategies and interventions to improve hospice care. Hospice analysis and management can involve various aspects, such as:
– Assessing the quality indicators and outcomes of hospice care, such as patient satisfaction, symptom management, caregiver support, staff retention, and cost-effectiveness (Dy et al., 2020).
– Developing evidence-based guidelines and standards for hospice care, such as clinical protocols, best practices, quality measures, and accreditation criteria (Morrison et al., 2020).
– Enhancing the education and training of hospice staff and volunteers, as well as the public and health care professionals, to increase their knowledge, skills, attitudes, and competencies in hospice care (Lorenz et al., 2020).
– Promoting the collaboration and integration of hospice care with other health care services and systems, such as primary care, oncology, geriatrics, emergency medicine, and palliative care (Rabow et al., 2020).
– Advocating for policy changes and reforms that support hospice care, such as increasing funding and reimbursement rates, expanding eligibility criteria and coverage options, simplifying documentation and certification processes, and ensuring patient autonomy and choice (Teno et al., 2020).
In conclusion, hospice care is a valuable service that provides compassionate and holistic care to patients with terminal illnesses and their families. Hospice analysis and management is a key component that can help improve the accessibility
and quality of hospice care. By addressing the challenges
and barriers that hinder hospice care,
hospice analysis
and management can contribute to enhancing
the end-of-life experience
of patients
and families.
References
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Campbell C.M., Robinson K., Meghani S.H. et al. (2020). COVID-19: A Catalyst for Prioritizing Health Equity in Palliative Care Research.
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Casarett D.J., Johnson M.S., Smith D. et al. (2020). The Optimal Delivery of Palliative Care: A National Comparison of the Outcomes of Hospital-Based Palliative Care Consultation Teams
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Morrison R.S., Meier D.E. (2020). The National Palliative Care Registry: A Platform for Quality Improvement and Research.
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Rabow M.W., Markowitz A.J., Smith A.K. et al. (2020). Advancing the Integration of Palliative Care into Primary Care and Oncology during COVID-19 and Beyond.
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Teno J.M., Gozalo P.L., Khandelwal N. et al. (2020). Site of Death, Place of Care, and Health Care Transitions among US Medicare Beneficiaries, 2000-2015.
JAMA,
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Wright A.A., Keating N.L., Ayanian J.Z. et al. (2020). Family Perspectives on Aggressive Cancer Care Near the End of Life.
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