Recently Published!!
by Maryclaire Torinus
Surviving Hospice: A Chaplain's Journey into the Big Business of Dying Plus: How To Find a Trustworthy Hospice
This narrative is an insider’s look into the hijacking of hospice by private equity and professional investors and the subsequent harm to patients, their families, and to the interdisciplinary clinical teams. It was released by a NYC publisher on October 31, 2023. For sale on Amazon.
The author, a hospice chaplain, tells end-of-life stories of her patients who were harmed by financially-motivated policies. This is a book for anyone who is embarking on making a choice about a hospice for their loved one, working chaplains, those in training, and those interested in what dying is like with a hospice who places patients as their primary stakeholders.
Maryclaire's experience working for an owner who sold to a private equity firm helped her to realize that the reputation and viability of hospice is in jeopardy. Her goal is to alert all who love hospice to rid it of professional investors.
— Stacy Juba, author, editor, and award-winning health journalist
"Powerful, beautifully written, and eye-opening, this book spotlights the inner workings of a multi-billion-dollar industry and the effect on patients, families, and hospice staff. The author shares poignant accounts of hospice at its best and worst and the hard-hitting truths she learned on her journey. A must-read for family members exploring hospice care."
— Laura Kukowski, CEO, editor, For-Profit Badger Hospice, LLC
"Maryclaire Torinus speaks with authority, providing this essential handbook for choosing a hospice care team and why that selection really matters."
— Greg Schneider President, HVA, co-author of The Changing Face of Hospice Volunteering in Hospice and Palliative Care
"When I first found out that Maryclaire Torinus was writing this book, I immediately contacted her because in my 25+ years supporting hospice volunteers, I have seen a gradual decline in the quality of care volunteers are permitted to provide the dying and their families. There are a variety of reasons for this that I describe in the Foreward of this book. Maryclaire provides invaluable insights that everyone should know, along with solutions to help others make the right choice in choosing a hospice."
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Comments
(e) Standard: Level of activity. A hospice must document and
maintain a volunteer staff sufficient to provide administrative or
direct patient care in an amount that, at a minimum, equals 5 percent of
the total patient care hours of all paid hospice employees and contract
staff. The hospice must document a continuing level of volunteer
activity. Expansion of care and services achieved through the use of
volunteers, including the type of services and the time worked, must be
recorded.
Not a lot of help, but at least now you know where to look - your agency policy and procedure manual.
Sorry for the delay in responding to your follow-up question. The COPs do not specifically address this topic. Generally this is a policy decision by the hospice. This issue is one of proper training. In the past I have heard that some hospices provide additional training to permit their volunteers to feed patients. There are many other factors that come into play such as where the service is being provided. For example, nursing homes are not likely to permit volunteers from an outside hospice to fed their patients.
Greg
42 CFR Part 418
Medicare and Medicaid Programs:
Hospice Conditions of Participation; Final Rule
The COPs for Volunteers can be found on pages 32133-32134.
Greg
Thanks,
Kelly