| Are All Hospice Companies the Same? |
|
ARTICLE SUMMARY Mission statements of hospice companies can vary greatly. The heart of the hospice company is in their mission, which shows what is important to them. Differences include:
Differences that harm reduce effectiveness or limit patient choices could cause problems. Differences that say I’m different, but better are fine - God loves wondrous variety. Are all hospice companies the same? FULL ARTICLE Mission statements of hospice companies can be different as night and stay – check out various hospice companies on the web, and you will see how true this is. The heart of the hospice company is in their mission – what is important to them. Some companies drive for revenue maximization, and will not pay the costs of tube feedings, for example, even if related to the terminal diagnosis. But you may have to dig deep for facts to come out. Differences abound, even though hospice companies are regulated by the same laws. Different interpretations of who is to pay for what, what services should be offered and how, are just a few of the examples of how these companies are different. Some require a patient to sign an order to refuse resuscitation, some do not. Some require a primary caregiver that can mange a patient’s care, some do not. Some will pay the cost of radiation treatments on a limited basis to shrink a tumor for pain management – some will not. Many of these differences are reflected in the operating principles of the company, and some can be seen in the hearts of those who care for the patients themselves. Do they put the patient ahead of profits? Do they truly have a heart for the dying patient or do they have an agenda? If all options are not presented be aware - for example some hospice companies promote a right to refuse treatments, without a corresponding right to receive treatments. Care givers within each hospice organization are different as well, and depending upon the training received, may reflect different hearts than that of the organization itself. Meeting with several hospice staff members is a good way to get a true feel of what the company is really like. Differences that harm, reduce effectiveness or limit patient choices could cause problems. Differences that say I’m different, but better are fine - God loves wondrous variety. |