Clinical Operations & Patient Care Flashcards

Under the Medicare hospice CoPs, the initial nursing assessment must be completed within what timeframe after the election of hospice care?

Answer: 48 hours

42 CFR 418.54(a) requires the RN initial assessment within 48 hours of election unless the physician, patient, or representative requests otherwise.

The hospice comprehensive assessment must be completed by the IDG, in consultation with the attending physician, no later than:

Answer: 5 calendar days after election

The CoPs require the comprehensive assessment within 5 calendar days after the election of hospice care.

How often must the IDG review and update the hospice plan of care at minimum?

Answer: Every 15 days

The plan of care must be reviewed and revised as often as the patient's condition requires, but no less frequently than every 15 calendar days.

Which combination represents the required core members of the hospice interdisciplinary group?

Answer: Physician, RN, social worker, and pastoral or other counselor

42 CFR 418.56 requires a doctor of medicine or osteopathy, an RN, a social worker, and a pastoral or other counselor on the IDG.

Which hospice service must be provided directly by hospice employees as a core service, except in limited extraordinary circumstances?

Answer: Nursing services

Nursing, physician, medical social, and counseling services are core services that must routinely be provided by hospice employees.

A hospice patient's pain is not controlled at home despite medication changes, requiring frequent titration by nurses. Which level of care is most appropriate?

Answer: General inpatient care

GIP is for pain control or acute symptom management that cannot feasibly be provided in other settings.

Hospice nursing services, physician services, and drugs and biologicals must be made routinely available on what basis?

Answer: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

The CoPs require these services to be available on a 24-hour basis, 7 days a week.