Are there ethical concerns about hospice and palliative care?

Hospice and palliative care that respect the sanctity of life do not impose death in any way. They allow natural death to occur in its own timing with loving, supportive care along the way. We need to demand quality, ethical palliative and end-of–life care.

What are the goals of palliative care and hospice?

At its core, palliative care is a beautiful, total-care concept with a team that might consist of doctors, nurses, therapists, chaplains, psychologists, and others depending on the patient’s needs. The goal is to relieve suffering and give support wherever needed to improve quality of life.

How long can a patient be in hospice care?

If a patient lives longer than six months, hospice care can continue as long as the hospice medical director or other hospice doctor re-certifies that he or she is still terminally ill. In hospice, patients are given comfort and supportive care including symptom and pain management, but not curative treatment.

How many nurses responded to the hospice survey?

A total of 129 nurses completed the survey. The responses to each of the survey questions were reviewed and placed in tables by the lead author. The tables were then independently reviewed by 3 of the authors. For the 3 main questions, significant statements were extracted and then clustered into themes and subthemes.

Can a patient be cared for at home by a hospice?

Patients being cared for at home may need to go to an inpatient unit for management of complicated symptoms or to give their family respite. Facilities can vary from the hospice having its own private inpatient unit to leased beds in a hospital or nursing home.

Can a hospice sponsor accept documentation of termination?

A1: Yes, if the termination of the hospice benefit is not yet reflected in the CMS systems, a sponsor may accept documentation of the termination whether due to the beneficiary’s revocation of his or her election or a hospice discharge or other termination. Documentation may be accepted from the hospice, the beneficiary, or a prescriber.

Why did you decide to become a hospice employee?

Perhaps a death in the family taught them the importance of end-of-life care, or their passion for caregiving prompted them to serve patients during what is a very difficult period of time for many. Whatever the reason, the answer to this question should highlight why the candidate was attracted to the profession.

What are the interview questions for a hospice employee?

Nearly all hospice interview questions fall into one of two categories: skill-based and interpersonal. Skill-based interview questions examine a candidate’s experience and comprehension of hospice care best practices, while interpersonal interview questions assess their social skills and compatibility with the organization’s workplace culture.