The care provided by hospices is a crucial component in the management of patients with life-limiting conditions such as cancer, dementia, stroke, heart disease, and respiratory disease. Hospices are well-equipped to provide the necessary care and support to alleviate pain and ensure that patients experience a dignified end-of-life journey. This table provides a breakdown of the primary diagnoses that hospices encountered in calendar year 2020, which serves as a valuable resource when considering which hospice to choose.
It is important that patients and their families consult with their physician when making this decision, as they can provide guidance on the quality of patient care and the significance of the information contained in this table. In the event that you require further clarification, please make use of our chat assistance. Our aim is to provide patients with the highest quality of care in their time of need.
Hospices offer care at a variety of sites, including the patient’s residence, assisted living facilities, residential facilities, nursing homes, hospitals, and inpatient hospice facilities. The table presented here provides information on the hospice agency’s care provision to patients at different locations during the calendar year 2020. However, the absence of data for a particular site does not necessarily mean that the hospice cannot provide care at that site.
When selecting a hospice, patients and caregivers should consider various factors, including the level of care required. The level of care may vary depending on the individual needs of the patient and their caregivers, and hospices that serve a small number of patients may not offer care beyond routine home care. If you are considering a hospice that has not provided care beyond routine home care for three years, it is recommended that you consult with your doctor or hospice representative. For more information on the different levels of hospice care, please use the chat assistance provided below.
National average: 4.2%
National average: 95.8%
Compare hospices based on results from a national survey that asks a family member or friend of a hospice patient about their hospice care experience.
How should I use the Family caregiver survey ratings?
Use the Family caregiver survey ratings along with other quality information when making decisions about choosing a hospice. A 1-star rating doesn’t mean that you’ll get poor care from a hospice. It means that hospices that got 2 or more stars performed better on these particular measures of family caregiver experience of care. If a hospice doesn’t have a Family caregiver survey rating, it means that the hospice didn’t have enough surveys to have ratings calculated in a meaningful way. It doesn’t mean that there is something wrong with the hospice.
The Family caregiver survey asks family members or friends about the patient’s hospice care, and if they would recommend that hospice to someone else. The survey ratings can be used to compare hospices using a 5-star scale, with more stars indicating better quality care
National average: 77%
Check out these 3 measures for comparing hospices! The Hospice Item Set (HIS) is the first measure, which comprehensively evaluates hospice care through 7 process measures. These measures include asking patients about their beliefs and values, inquiring about their treatment preferences, assessing patients for pain and shortness of breath, and beginning treatment as needed. Additionally, offering care for constipation for patients taking opioids is an essential aspect of the evaluation. It’s important to note that if a hospice fails to complete any of these 7 processes for a patient, that patient will not be included in the HIS score.
The second measure, Hospice Visits in the Last Days of Life, examines whether a hospice provided adequate care to patients and their caregivers during the final days of life. Registered nurses or medical social workers must have visited patients on at least two of the final three days of their lives to meet the benchmark for this measure.
Finally, there’s the Hospice Care Index score, which compares the quality of care provided by hospices to the national average. This measure evaluates 10 indicators of quality care, such as skilled nursing visit frequency and timing, discharges followed by hospitalization, and spending per patient. Hospices receive one point for each indicator if they meet the criteria, with a maximum score of 10.
National average: 49.2%
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