Hospice And Palliative Care

Hospice And Palliative Care Agency Start-up Guide

Our Hospice and Palliative Care Agency Start-Up Guide provides a comprehensive overview of opening a hospice and palliative care agency. It will assist you in understanding the complexities of starting and managing a hospice care organization. The book outlines operational approaches related to:

PRELIMINARY STEPS

Hospice State Licensure requirements and process
CMS Enrollment/ Certification Process
Initial Hospice Licensure Application process
Accreditation Process
Hospice Local Coverage Determination
Organization Financial Systems

HUMAN RESOURCE BASICS

Employee recruitment and hiring process
Retention strategies for hospice and palliative care Employees:
Personnel practices
Federal and State Labor Laws
Employee Wages Requirements
Employee Benefits
Employer and Employee Taxes
Independent contractors verses employees
Required Employee forms
Required Employer forms
Team structure and Management
Staff Scheduling
Administrative and Management Team
Administration Management Profiles
Recommended Employee trainings and certifications for hospice Staff

SERVICE PROVISION

Hospice Services and Service Lines
Pain Management in Hospice care
Durable Medical Equipment
Hospice related services
Patients Admission Guidelines
Admission Process
Discharging Process
Grief Support
Financial Management and Billing

MEASURING QUALITY AND INCIDENT REPORTING

Quality assessment and performance improvement (QAPI)
Organizations that influence Hospice and Palliative Care Services
Hospice Quality Satisfaction Surveys
Incident Reporting and Investigation
Quality Improvement Plan and Committee

MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

Marketing for Hospice Care
Charity and Development for Non-Profit Hospice
Source of Referrals for Hospice agencies
Maintaining Referral sources
Promotion and Advertising
Maintaining referral sources
Relationship Selling

and much more

This book is available in paperback format and e-book (instant download) format.

Hospice And Palliative Care Policies And Procedures Manual

Our Hospice and Palliative Care Policies and Procedures Manual is for organizations pursuing licensing and accreditation for their hospice and palliative care programs. The manual meets the following standards for community hospice and palliative care at in-patient care centers:

Medicare Hospice CoPs (Conditions of Participation),
The Joint Commission
CHAP
ACHC
HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules
NHPCO Standards of Practice for Hospice Programs

Policies cover administrative, operational, and patient-centered procedures, along with guidance on clinical protocols, forms, tools, and processes designed to improve planning and quality of care. Both new and existing programs can use this guidebook to enhance and standardize your operations and clinical procedures.

The Hospice and Palliative Care Policies and Procedures Manual is available in e-book (instant download) format and Flash Drive for easy customization

SECTION ONE: LEADERSHIP & ADMINISTRATION

Mission, vision and philosophy of care
Lines of authority/use of organizational chart
Governing body
Professional advisory committee
Organizational planning
Annual operating budget
Compliance with laws and regulations
Patient/family/caregiver perception of care
Uniform quality of care/service
Written agreements for contracted services
Appointment of president/chief executive officer
Designation of individual inabsence of president/chief executive officer
Supervision
Management responsibilities in improving organizational performance
Development and review of policies and procedures
Certificate of insurance
Donated funds( non-profit hospice)

SECTION TWO: ADMISSION

Scope of services
Listing of services provided
Referral process
Admission criteria
Admission process
Interdisciplinary team meeting
Patient notification of changes in care/service
Medicare hospice benefit
Medicaid benefit
Coordination of care services with contracts/agreements
Physician communication
Continuous care service
Pronouncement of death
After-hours services
Inpatient services
Respite care
Continuity of care between inpatient setting and hometransfer or change of designated hospice
Change of designated hospice
Medicare and/or medicaid patients only
Discharge from program
On-going communication

SECTION THREE: ASSESSMENTS

Initial nursing assessments
On-going assessments
Nutritional assessment
Functional assessment
Social work assessment
Spiritual care assessment
Bereavement assessment
Pediatric assessment
Abuse/neglect/domestic violence
Prioritizing patient problems/needs
Scope of assessment/qualifications

SECTION FOUR: CARE, TREATMENT AND SERVICES

Interdisciplinary team plan of care
Physician services medical director
Physician services attending physician's role
Authentication of physician orders
Medical consultation
Certification of terminal illness
Monitoring patient's response; reporting to physician
Nursing care
Home health aide services
Nutritional services
Pharmacy services
Social work services
Spiritual care services
Volunteer services
Bereavement services
Staff access to emotional support
Care of the dying patient
Death at home
Pain assessment and management for the hospice patient
Identification, prevention and treatment of symptoms
Suicide
Suicide risk assessment
Medication orders
Administration and documentation of medications
Identification of medication for administration
Patient self-administration of medication
Intravenous (iv) infusion therapy
Subcutaneous (sq) opioid infusion therapy
Medication profile/monitoring
Medication error
Adverse drug reactions
Anaphylaxis protocol
Crushing of medications
Safe storage of medications
Labels
Home use of controlled substance
Disposal of controlled drugs at home
Investigational medications
Emergency care
Transportation services
Standards of care and practice
Consultation for specialty service
Durable medical equipment and supplies
Caregiver / family support in crisis death reactions
Icd deactivation/deprogramming
Workplace violence – combative & agitated patients

SECTION FIVE: RIGHTS AND ETHICS

Patient bill of rights and responsibilities
Informed consent during admission process
Consent for care and services
Hospice election statement
Financial responsibility
Advance directives
Resuscitation status
Informed consent/refusal of treatment
Resolution of conflicts/ethics advisory committee
Complaint/concerns
Definition
Complaint/concern form
Complaint/concern
Facilitating communication
Standards of conduct/ethical behavior
Revocation of the medicare /medicaid hospice benefit
Revocation of election statement of hospice care
Change of designated hospice
Hospice surveyor home visit
Media policy

SECTION SIX: PATIENT & FAMILY EDUCATION

Patient education process
Safe/effective use of medications
Safe and effective use of equipment and supplies
Drug-food interactions
Basic home safety
Storage, handling and access to supplies and gases
Identification, handling and disposal of hazardous waste
Infection control precautions
Community education resources
Patient education related to discharge planning
Educational resources
Natural disasters/emergencies
Signs and symptoms of approaching death
Appropriate use of restraints

SECTION SEVEN: PERSONNEL POLICIES

Equal opportunity employer
Employment at will
Employment eligibility
Qualifications of hospice personnel
Employment of relatives
Employment process
Personnel plan/staffing
Exempt/non-exempt
Employment status
Falsification of employment records
Personnel records/contents
Education
Orientation content/process
Probationary period
Job specific competency & assessment
Use of agency chhas
Performance evaluations
Length of service
Employment verification and reference checks
Promotions and transfers
Job posting/position interest
Recruitment and retention
Reclassification of position and/or employment status
Termination of employment
Exit interview
Re-employment
Attendance and punctuality
Confidentiality
Confidentiality statement
Conflict of interest
Conflict of interest policy agreement/disclosure statement for personnel/volunteers
Follow-up form for for potential conflict of interest
Conflict of interest policy agreement/disclosure statement for board of trustees members
Hospice personnel care conflicts
Anti-harassment
Dress and appearance
Drug and alcohol use and testing
Weapons/firearms
Smoking
Required in-service and training
Discipline
Employee grievance procedure
Gifts
Solicitation/distribution
Temporary agency utilization
Employee meetings
Company property
Bulletin boards
Personal vehicle insurance policy
Hours of work
Breaks
Overtime
Work records
Pay periods/pay day
Deductions from paycheck
Garnishment of wages
Emergency closings
Salary and benefits
Business related travel
Unemployment compensation
Temporary disability insurance
Paid time off
Tuition reimbursement
Professional development
Jury duty
Bereavement
Employee assistance program
Length of employment awards
Job description policy
Executive director/administrator job description
Medical director job description
Associate medical director job description
Director of nursing job description
Office manager job description
Receptionist/clerical job description
Rn case manager job description
Licensed vocational nurse job description
Medical social worker job description
Hospice community liaison job description
Chaplain/spiritual/pastoral counselor job description
Bereavement coordinator job description
Volunteer coordinator job description
Quality assurance coordinator job description
Hospice/home health aide job description
Homemaker job description
Volunteer job description
Speech language pathologist job description
Physical therapist job description
Occupational therapist job description
Manager of compliance and education job description

SECTION EIGHT SURVEILLANCE, PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF INFECTIONS

Infection/exposure control plan
Bloodborne pathogens exposure determination
Bloodborne pathogens exposure determination
Standard precautions
Management of infections/exposures in personnel
Personal protective equipment
Protective device checklist
Handwashing
Medical aseptic technique
Surgical aseptic sterile technique
Precautions for invasive procedures
Respiratory and tuberculosis precautions
Tuberculosis exposure control plan
Contaminated materials disposition
Contaminated waste disposal
Nursing bag technique
Communication of hazards to personnel
Information and training
Surveillance of infections in patients and staff
Evaluation and records of infections among patients and staff
Infection identification: confidential patient report
Reporting of communicable diseases
Record keeping 7
Section nine:
Environmental safety and equipment management

SECTION NINE: ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY AND EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT

Environmental safety program
Environmental safety-hospice
Fire safety-hospice
Utilities management -hospice
Equipment management-hospice
Environmental safety - patient
Fire safety-patient
Equipment management - patient
Safety and appropriate use of medical equipmentand supplies
Procedure for checking out, use of andreturning cadd pump
Procedure for medication lock boxes
Medical equipment malfunction
Hazardous waste handling
Personnel safety-unsafe home visits
Guidelines for visiting patients
In a neighborhood with a high crime rate
After hours on company premises
Cellular phone safety
Fundamentals of body mechanics
Safety and incident reporting
Emergency management plan
Certificate of insurance
Vulnerability analysis chart
Pyramid phone communication
Measuring performance of environmental
Safety program

SECTION TEN: MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION

Principles of information management
Assessment of information needs
Access to protected health information
Computer access to protected health information
Requests and disclosures
Of protected health information
Medical record security
Abbreviations and symbols
Symbols and abbreviations
Do not use list
Abbreviations
Hospice symbols
Data collection process review
Communication of protected health information
Interface of patient data and management systems
External data bases
Clinical record review
Entries into clinical records
Contents of the clinical record
Physician orders/plan of treatment
Physician's signature
Discharge summary
Transfer information
Assembly of clinical record
Retention of records
Aggregation of data/information
Knowledge-based information/community resource
Comparative data/information
Contingency plan if organization closes
Volunteer documentation
Documentation of volunteer services
Patient requests for restrictions/amendments
To protected health information
Updating patient changes
Business continuity/disaster recovery plan
Performance improvement

SECTION ELEVEN PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT

Performance improvement plan
Sentinel event policy
Action plan monitoring
Performance measurement
Root cause analysis
Root cause analysis flowchart
Problem conclusion

HOSPICE FORMS TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abuse and neglect screening form
Accident and incident report
Accident log
Adult vitals sheet
Agreement for respite care
Annual clinical record review summary report
Annual tb questionnaire
Application for employment
Bill of rights and responsibilities form
Communication note addendum
Confidentiality of information agreement
Controlled medication verification form
Daily census report
Discharge log form
Discharge order form
Discharge summary form
Disposal of discontinued medications
Drug testing policy
Employee orientation tracking form
Employee ppe sign out agreement
Employee reference check
Guidelines for oxygen safety
2handwashing competency form
Hbv vaccine waiver form
Health and safety agreement
Home health aide care plan
Home health aide supervisory visithospice admission record form
Hospice at- risk registry consent
Hospice cardiopulmonary resuscitation (cpr) directive
Hospice consent for treatment
Hospice emergency care plan
Hospice financial responsibility agreement
Hospice initial dme checklist
Hospice insurance verification form
Hospice notice of privacy practiceshospice opioid risk assessment form
Hospice physician’s certificate of terminal illness
Hospice staff dress code
Hospice spiritual assessment form
Incident log
Infection control assessment
Infection control log
Initial medication profile
Interdisciplinary progress note
Intravenous therapy competency form
Medication administration record
Msw initial visit and plan of care
Msw referral order form
Msw skilled visit
New employee hiring checklist
Non-compete agreement
Notification form
Nurses’ notesnursing communication note
Nursing missed visit report
Nursing services flow sheet
Nursing skills checklist
Nursing visit record
Patient calendar worksheet
Patient complaint form
Patient information form
Patient notification and service coordination form
Patient safety goals annual competencies form
Patient transfer form
Patient visit calendarperformance evaluation form
Physician orders
Pi corrective action report
Pre-employment and annual physical form
Progress notes
Quality improvement log
Quarterly clinical record review clinical summary
Referral intake form
Release of information form
Reporting abuse, neglect and exploitation
Supervisory visit form
Tb test form
Verification of professional license
Volunteer application form
Wound assessment and evaluation form
Wound care flow sheet

PALLIATIVE CARE PROGRAM MANUAL TABLE OF CONTENTS

Mission, vision and goals
Philosophy of care
Scope of service
Standards of practice
- Structure and culture
- Structure
- Continuum of care
- Staffing
- Interdisciplinary team
- Provision of palliative care
- Access
- Assessment/reassessment of needs
- Care planning
- Delivery of care
- Decision-making
Coordination and continuity of care
- Environment of care
- Care of the actively dying patient
- Bereavement support
- Staff support

Customized Hospice And Palliative Care Policies And Procedures Manual

Have our experienced staff of experts write your policies and procedures manual. Our Customized Hospice and Palliative Care Policies and Procedures Manual has a proven track record of meeting regulatory standards. All contents, including forms, are tailored to meet your specific state regulations, accreditation standards, or both. Each Manual goes through a five-step review process that will bring your agency’s policies current so they’re ready for review. A crosswalk guide is included to match each policy with the corresponding regulations or standards addressed:

The Customized Hospice Manual comes with:

Policies and Procedures to meet your current state hospice regulations and accreditation standards if applicable.
Forms and Templates.
Patient Information Booklet to meet your state hospice regulations and accreditation standards if applicable.
Employee Handbook for Hospice to include state and federal labor law.

This Manual is available in e-book format (Microsoft Word) or hard copy with an e-book.

Please allow 3-4 weeks for delivery.

Hospice & Palliative Care Patient Information Booklet

Our Hospice & Palliative Care Patient Information Booklet streamlines the admission process by making sure patients and their responsible parties receive all the required documentation for admission. It complies with federal, state, CHAP, ACHC, and JCAHO standards. Patients are required to be provided with, and acknowledge receipt of pertinent information on insurance, rights, consent, advance directives, pain management, emergency preparedness, counseling services, nutrition and hydration, privacy notices, and more.

This booklet is available in e-book (instant download) format and on Flash Drive. It comes in word format for easy customization.

Hospice Staff Training Handbook

A hospice agency must provide training to staff before they are sent out to care for patients. Our Hospice Staff Training Handbook is a comprehensive training book that will adequately prepare staff and new hires to work in a hospice setting. This easy-to-read handbook focuses on the role of the hospice staff and the challenges of working hospice patients. It’s loaded with real-life examples to help your team, including aides and nurses, care for dying patients, handle ethical issues, communication, strategies for managing aggressive behavior, and much more.

Residential Care Programs

Home Care

Transportation

Staffing

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