| Accountability |
Hospice
programs, as integral parts of the community
health care delivery system, are accountable
to those served and the community at large.
They must meet applicable requirements
according to local, state and federal
regulations concerning program operation. |
| Accessibility |
Hospice service
is available to identified patients and
families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To
the maximum extent possible, programs will
provide care regardless of diagnosis or
ability to pay for service. Access to
inpatient care is available either directly
or through a contractual arrangement with an
inpatient facility. |
| Continuity of Care |
Services are
structured and organized to assure continuity
of care, according to the hospice plan of
care in both the home and inpatient setting.
Provision must be made for the appropriate
transfers of information between settings. |
| Patient/Family
Unit |
The unit of care
is the patient and the patient's family or
primary careperson; the interdisciplinary
team care plan is developed with and includes
specific goals and support for both the
patient and family. Patient, family and
caregiver's beliefs and values are
acknowledged and respected. |
| Interdisciplinary Team |
Interdisciplinary
team services are available in the home and
inpatient setting. Services include
physician, nursing, psychological/social,
pastoral, and bereavement care. The medical
care of each patient is the responsibility of
a designated attending physician. Services
are provided by qualified personnel. Written
policies and procedures govern the scope and
conduct of care provided by each
interdisciplinary team member. Goals of care
include optimal pain and symptom management,
as well as responding to other defined areas
of need. |
| Volunteer Support |
The hospice
program includes volunteers specifically
trained to augment staff services. They are
not engaged in lieu of staff. Volunteer
support is offered to each patient and
assistance may be in direct support to
families or through indirect assistance in
office or other related areas. |
| Medical Records |
An accurate and
current medical record that includes
documentation of the plan of care and the
services provided is maintained on each
patient/family unit. Clinical records must
include a signed informed consent and define
actions, consistent with the patient's
wishes, to be taken when life-threatening
situations occur. Records are to be secured
and access appropriately limited to assure
confidentiality. |
| Bereavement Support |
Hospice services
include assessment and support of the needs
of the bereaved both before and for one year
following patient death. Services also
include the development of programs and
resources to meet those needs. A tool for
risk assessment should be incorporated into
the written bereavement plan of care and
appropriate referrals made to community
professionals when high risk is identified. |
| Quality Assurance and
Utilization Review |
The hospice
program has defined quality assurance and
utilization review activities to regularly
monitor and evaluate services. This will
assure that high quality care is provided and
that available resources are appropriately
utilized. |
| Program Management and
Administration |
The hospice
program is managed effectively by a director
who initiates the required measures to assure
that the program:
- complies
with applicable laws and regulations
- adheres
to all program policies and
procedures
- adheres
to all state and national standards
|
| Governing Body |
An organized
governing body is identified and has overall
responsibility for establishing policy,
maintaining quality patient/family care, and
providing for management and planning for the
hospice program. Bylaws specify the
responsibility, organization and structure of
the hospice program. |
