Mission
What are our hospice’s mission, vision and values?
Mission: “To honor life by providing extraordinary care with compassion, comfort and dignity to our patients, families and community.”
Values- Compassion – Patients and families come first
Respect – Treat people the way you would want to be treated
Integrity – Honoring our word and accepting responsibility
Team – Working together to achieve our Mission
Excellence – Always do your best
Safety – Ensure and nurture a culture that is committed to safety
Vision- “Serving our community by being the most respected and trusted experts in palliative and hospice care.”
How is patient information kept secure and confidential?
PHI is handled according to the current HIPPA guidelines, information is given only on a need to know basis. PHI is kept secure when out of the office, Ex: locked in trunk of car or not visible for other people to see. Using only devices that are associated with secured server.
Where are HPCIC’s Policies and Procedures and how do you access those reference materials?
All P&P are housed in SharePoint, users must be granted access to view.
Explain the hospice process of documentation and retrieval of the patient-specific data elements and how they are used in care planning.
Used as part of QAPI data, provides the same format and data elements for all patients, provides guidelines for POC development (such as: pain/dyspnea).
What type of education, services, and expertise does the hospice offer to the community?
Education related to advanced directives planning, support groups & bereavement services open to the community, memorial services, hospice staff and volunteers to speak to community groups as requested.
How are you involved in the QAPI program?
Members of the QAPI/Compliance team meet monthly and discuss current project and any infection control concerns. QAPI results and outcomes are shared with all staff during staff meetings. Any concerns for the organization is discussed at that time
What type of in-service training have you received?
We have mandatory yearly trainings to complete regarding: Emergency/disaster training » How to handle complaints/grievances » Infection control training » Cultural diversity » Communication barriers » Ethics training » Workplace and client/patient safety (OSHA) » Methods for coping with work-related issues of grief, loss and change » Patient rights and responsibilities » Compliance plan » Pain and symptom management. Staff meetings cover some of these, as well as Relias training and educational modules. Infection Control is discussed throughout the year. Competencies are completed annually.
To whom would you report any suspected fraud and abuse?
Your immediate supervisor or the Chief Compliance officer.
Did you receive a competency assessment prior to performing your job duties? Describe the process
Competency assessments are accomplished through observation, skills lab, supervisory visits, knowledge-based tests, and self-assessment. All direct care personnel must be observed providing patient care within their scope of practice by a qualified individual prior to providing care independently in the home environment. All employees must complete competency assessments prior to providing care independently.
How does the hospice coordinate and provide a continuum of care for the patient and family through the transition of dying to the time of death and follow-up bereavement?
Though IDG discussion, Bereavement is also in these meetings.
Where are HPCIC’s Policies and Procedures and how do you access those reference materials?
All P&P are housed in SharePoint, users must be granted access to view.
To whom would you report any alleged violation involving mistreatment, neglect, or abuse to a patient and in what time frames?
You should notify your supervisor immediately or within 24 hours
How does the hospice introduce the availability of spiritual counseling?
Discussed during any presentation of services, &/or on admission. Spiritual Care Assessment completed within 5 days of admission.
How would you report an incident/variance involving a patient?
Complete a grievance form and discuss with your immediate supervisor
What emergency preparedness training have you received?
Yearly review of the emergency program on Relias, participation in monthly drills and tabletop discussions.
Can you describe the agency's policies and procedures on conflict of interest?
What are the hospice's policies and procedures regarding resuscitative guidelines?
Patients have a right to choose their preference. If they wish to be a DNR, they sign the DNR form, which then is signed by the physician and the original is placed in their home and a copy is placed in their chart.
How are patients informed of their financial responsibility?
This begins at the admission process and if this changes during their time with hospice they are advised as soon as we know there are changes in coverage. This is usually done by the Social Worker if in the IPU.
How does the psychosocial assessment aid the IDG in maximizing the benefit from hospice care and services?
Provides a collaborative effort by all disciplines to ensure identification of patient/family coping skills, financial constraints, dealing with terminal illness, support mechanisms. Provides ability for emotional & spiritual assessment of pt/family status.
How did you participate in the integrated healthcare system testing of your emergency preparedness plan?
HPCIC keeps close contact with the Iredell County Health Department and belongs to a regional healthcare preparedness coalition and relies on these strong partnership to ensure national, state and local communication and instruction are readily available to our organization and staff.
Describe the process for handling a patient grievance/complaint.
Complete a grievance form and discuss with your immediate supervisor
Describe the process for reporting, documenting, and resolving an ethical issue.
Any ethical concerns should be reported to your immediate supervisor and written up accordingly. If the concerns are regarding your organization, there is a Compliance hotline number you can call. There can be NO retaliation for reporting ethical concerns. HPCIC also has an ethics committee that can review and discuss issues.
Did you receive an orientation? Describe the orientation process.
All employees are vetted by HR re: licensure & background checks. Upon hire, they are oriented to agency mission, vision, P&P, job description HR competency check list during a formal orientation. Educational requirements are completed prior to patient contact. Orientees are then placed with seasoned staff to complete clinically specific competency requirements.
How do you facilitate patient/caregiver participation in the planning of care?
Discuss with patient and family members their current POC and make them aware of any changes as they occur. Invite them to participate in IDG if they would like to.
Explain the hospice process of documentation and retrieval of the patient-specific data elements and how they are used in care planning.
Used as part of QAPI data, provides the same format and data elements for all patients, provides guidelines for POC development (such as: pain/dyspnea).