Paradigm Health Hospice and Palliative Care Goes Above and Beyond
When faced with the healthcare decision to begin hospice care, making the right hospice care choice for a caregiving partner and provider is the patient’s choice – your choice. Interviewing several hospice care providers is always recommended. As a trusted hospice and palliative care provider through the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC), Paradigm Health’s focus is on a patient’s unique goals of care and committed to enriching each day
According to AARP, here are some valuable hospice care choice tips for a when searching for the right match for your healthcare journey:
• Ask for recommendations from doctors, nursing homes, family members and anyone who has knowledge of hospice care.
• Look for accreditation through the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, the Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP) program or the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
• Visit Hospice Compare on Medicare.gov. All firms listed qualified for Medicare certification by providing 15 core services.
• Visit hospice facilities or agencies in person to determine how you feel about the people you meet.
Kim Keister is a freelance journalist and former executive editor at AARP.
Questions for Hospice Care Providers
Here are a few important questions to ask when you are visiting with an accredited agency you are considering for providing hospice care for your loved one.
• Are staff nurses and doctors available 24 hours a day? You’ll want that emergency staffing, especially as your loved one enters the final few days of life.
• Is your medical director board certified? This is not a requirement, but the extra step of certification is another assurance of experience and training.
• How many years has the organization been in operation? Many U.S. hospice programs trace their beginnings to the 1980s AIDS epidemic, and Congress made hospice a permanent Medicare benefit in 1985.
• How many patients does the hospice care for? Smaller hospices may provide more personalized care, but those serving at least 100 patients have more resources.
• What is the typical caseload for your hospice nurses or nurse practitioners? Ideally, nurses should manage no more than 12 patients at a time, especially if they travel. They do not see all patients daily.
• Can you meet our needs for a care plan? Have an idea of what you and your loved one want and whether that is within the scope of the hospice’s care.
• What is expected in terms of help from the family? This is especially important if much of the previous caregiving has been long distance.
• What are the options for inpatient care? Sometimes staying in a hospice facility is temporary and can be used to stabilize patients until they can return home.
Visit www.myparadigmhealth.com for more information on hospice care.
