Category: Best Practice
Articles about best practices often in the field of hospice with the goal to maintain Medicare compliance.
Enhancing Patient Care: Recognizing Subtle Changes in Level of Consciousness for Hospice and Palliative Nurses
Discover essential techniques for hospice and palliative care nurses to identify subtle changes in patients' level of consciousness. This comprehensive guide covers assessment methods, red flags, and best practices for enhancing patient care—valuable insights for neurological nursing specialists and those aspiring to specialize in this field.
Safeguarding Seniors: Essential Monitoring of High-Risk Medications in Geriatric Care
Understanding the potential risks associated with certain medications in the geriatric population is crucial. This article explores the top five medication classes that require close monitoring to reduce the incidence of syncope, falls, and mortality events in older adults. Learn how to optimize medication management for safer patient care.
Safeguarding Geriatric Health: The Crucial Role of Regular BEERS Criteria Reviews
The BEERS Criteria is vital for improving medication safety in older adults. This article explores the importance of regularly reviewing these guidelines, discussing the frequency of reviews, the potential risks of inappropriate medications, and how healthcare providers can implement effective medication management strategies for geriatric patients.
Essential Guide to Hospice GIP Discharge Planning: From Admission to Transition
This guide covers critical aspects of Hospice GIP discharge planning. From initial evaluation to managing symptoms and effective discharge strategies, this article equips hospice nurses and families with the necessary knowledge for optimal care transitions.
Making Informed POLST Decisions: A Compassionate Guide for Patients, Families, and Healthcare Teams
This comprehensive guide helps patients, families, and healthcare professionals confidently navigate POLST decisions. Learn the essential steps, understand your options, and ensure your end-of-life care wishes are honored through proper planning and communication.
Crafting a Comprehensive Hospice Admission Note: A Guide for Registered Nurses
Learn about the essential elements of a comprehensive hospice admission note. This guide helps registered nurses document crucial patient information, from diagnoses to physical assessments, ensuring the delivery of quality end-of-life care and proper eligibility documentation.
Navigating the Regulatory Landscape: Essential Timeline Requirements for Hospice Providers
Explore the essential regulatory timeline requirements for hospice providers, covering everything from initial certifications to recertifications, nurse visits, and face-to-face encounters. This comprehensive guide helps ensure compliance and proper billing practices for hospice services.
Understanding Invalid Primary Diagnosis Codes for Hospice Claims
Learn about the diagnosis codes not allowed as primary diagnoses on hospice claims. This guide helps hospice agencies ensure accurate billing and optimal patient care.
Decoding Acuity: A Guide for Hospice Nurses and Families
Discover how acuity impacts hospice care. From assessment tools to real-world examples, this guide helps nurses and families navigate acuity levels.
Mastering Hospice GIP Compliance: A Guide for Clinical Teams
Explore five essential strategies for maintaining hospice GIP compliance, including documentation best practices, staff preparedness, and emerging technological solutions. This guide helps hospice organizations navigate complex regulatory requirements while ensuring quality patient care.
Understanding Risk Reduction in Terminal Illness
This guide helps families of terminally ill patients comprehend absolute vs. relative risk reduction. It’s a resource for making educated choices about medication continuation, tapering, or cessation in collaboration with healthcare professionals.
Boosting Hospice CAHPS Scores: The Power of Caregiver Training
This article delves into the transformative role of caregiver training in boosting Hospice CAHPS scores. Drawing on recent studies and expert insights, we explore practical strategies for enhancing caregiver education, ultimately leading to improved patient care and higher satisfaction ratings.
Navigating the Hospice Journey with the HOPE Tool: A Comprehensive Guide
This comprehensive guide explores the Hospice Outcome and Patient Evaluation (HOPE) tool and its impact on the hospice journey. It provides insights into compliance strategies, the roles of hospice team members, and the tool’s use in interdisciplinary group meetings.
Pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators: A Guide for Patients and Caregivers
Learn about the differences between pacemakers and ICDs, their functions, and the implications for patients and caregivers. Discover why pacemakers should stay on, and ICDs should be turned off at the end of life for comfort and dignity.
Understanding Emergency Admissions in Hospice
Emergency admissions in hospice provide rapid care for patients nearing the end of life. This process involves quick referrals, expedited assessments, and immediate provision of necessary equipment and medications. Hospice teams work efficiently to ensure patients receive comfort and support during this critical time.
Best Practices for IDG Meetings in Hospice Care
Hospice care is about providing compassionate support and comfort to patients during their end-of-life journey. Interdisciplinary Group (IDG) meetings ensure the highest quality care for hospice patients and their families. These meetings bring together a diverse team of professionals to discuss patient care plans, address concerns, and collaborate on providing holistic support. However, these meetings can sometimes become overwhelming and time-consuming. Let's explore some best practices to make the most of IDG meetings while keeping patient-centered care at the forefront.
Unveiling the Complexities of SSRIs: Half-Life, Risks, and Misconceptions
Dive into the world of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and their role in treating depression. Discover the importance of medication half-life, the risks of serotonin syndrome, and why the chemical imbalance theory of depression is being challenged. Learn about the concerns of overprescription in older adults.
Common Medications That May Cause Harm to Hospice Patients
Medications like anticoagulants, antidepressants, and NSAIDs can cause harm to hospice patients. Learn how to balance comfort and safety with individualized care.
Why Anticoagulants Should Be Reviewed Regularly for Deprescribing for Those Who Are Terminally Ill
Anticoagulants can prevent blood clots but also cause bleeding risks for terminally ill patients. This article explains why these medications should be regularly reviewed for deprescribing, outlining factors like prognosis, preferences, and palliative care options to consider when making informed, compassionate choices aligned with the patient's goals.
Understanding the Importance of Quarterly Medication Reconciliation for Terminal Patients
This article discusses the importance of quarterly medication reconciliation for terminal patients and their families. It explains the benefits, such as improving patient safety, quality of life, symptom management, and the challenges and solutions. It also addresses the need to re-evaluate certain medications, like donepezil and memantine, for patients with dementia as their disease progresses.
Hospice Nursing Visits in the Last Two Weeks vs. Last Six Months of Life
Navigating the intricate path of hospice care involves a nuanced understanding of the unique needs of terminally ill patients. The frequency and nature of nursing visits are crucial in ensuring optimal comfort and support during the final stages of life. This article will delve into the variations in hospice nursing visits, explicitly comparing the last two weeks to the preceding six months.
Hospice – Patient and Family Autonomy
Hospice care is often misunderstood. A common myth suggests that once a patient with a terminal illness enters hospice, they lose control over their care. This article aims to dispel this misconception and highlight the central role of patient and family autonomy in hospice settings. It's important to note that this discussion primarily applies to patients receiving care at home or in non-facility settings, as facility-based patients may have less control over their care decisions.
Compliance-based, Eligibility Driven Hospice Documentation: Tips for Hospice Nurses
Compliance-based, Eligibility Driven Hospice Documentation: Tips for Hospice Nurses" offers comprehensive guidance for hospice professionals. This valuable resource provides practical examples for various aspects of hospice care documentation, including admissions, recertifications, IDG/IDT notes, continuous care, and GIP records. Enhance your documentation skills while ensuring regulatory compliance.
Hospice General Inpatient Care: a Guide for Families and Nurses
Hospice General Inpatient Care (GIP) provides short-term, intensive care for patients experiencing severe pain or symptoms that can't be managed at home. Learn about GIP eligibility, benefits, and how it helps both patients and families during challenging times. Discover key details and important considerations for this essential hospice service.