Need comparison of hospice providers in Cape County, Missouri?

Question:

My brother-in-law has cancer and his doctors have advised him and my sister to contact hospice. I would like a comparison of the hospice providers in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri.

Answers:
All hospice providers that accept Medicare are required to meet many criteria for the delivery of the services. The hospices are periodically surveyed, and the results of the survey are public information. If you really want to go to that level, your state's Health Division could give you that info.

However, these don't really tell you about quality of care - and there is no database to compare these at this time.

I would look at the NHPCO.com website and first get a list of the providers in the area. Then I would call each one and ask them certain questions:

1) Are you Medicare certified?
2) What is your patient to RN ratio ( good number is the average full time RN carries 12 patients or so)
3) What is the response time if the patient needs assistance?
4) List all the services provided by the agency -
Required services are nursing, social work, chaplain, home health aide, bereavement care, pharmacy, supplies and medical equipment, volunteers.
Ask what other services are part of the program - massage, other therapies, etc.

Generally if the doctor has said "call hospice" you don't want to delay your decision too long. The sooner you get into a hospice program, the more they can do for your family.

I hope things go well for you.

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Need comparison of hospice providers in Cape County, Missouri?

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