Vitas Inpatient Hospice

Specialties Hospice

Published

Hello, I saw an ad for an RN at one of Vitas' inpatient units. Has anyone had

any experiences at one of Vitas' inpatient units? How was the unit as far as

quality of orientation? Finally, does Vitas seem accepting of new grads?

Thank you all!

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Specializes in Hospice.

Run as fast as you can!

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Specializes in DDS.
Run as fast as you can!

I just recently got hired there for a branch in CT. I am going through the physical process now and have not yet started orientation. I am just curious to know why was that your response to the post. Just so I can know if i should keep my guard up going into this agency..:confused:

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Specializes in Hospice.

Excellent article!

I do want to point out that hospice may NOT provide curative care intended to prolong life under CMS regs. This applies only to the diagnosis under which the pt is admitted to hospice ... treatment of other problems is not provided or paid for by hospice but by the pts other insurance/medicare. The question of neglect gets tricky.

I worked for one of the companies named in the article. Although I still have and will keep my hospice certification, there is no way I'll EVER work for a for-profit hospice ever again.

Remember when the switch to for-profit health care was supposed to reduce costs? Supposedly, running health care like a "real business" was supposed to streamline care, keep costs down and competition would lower prices.

Feh ...

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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice, Home Health.

Run! Save yourself!!!!! We have a few ipu's in the area under the vitas name, 12 bed units, 1 rn/shift & 1 cna on day shift, for an Ipu? No way

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Specializes in Hospice.

According to Hospice Patients Alliance the largest hospice patient advocates group in the country: Back during the Clinton administration Vitas were under investigation for 50 million in "disputed federal payments" from Medicare. At the time it was owned by Hugh Westbrook who is based in Miami. It was being investigated by Janet Reno then the US attorney General and also Miami based. The case was suddenly closed without explanation. Currently it is being investigated by Texas AG & the US dept of justice for medicare fraud. However since some of the Vitas board members also sit on the NHPCO board which is the largest hospice lobbying group in the country. I wonder what the outcome of that investigation will be......

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Specializes in Hospice.

Not a big fan here of Hospice Patient's Alliance. Have not checked them out in several years.

Their obsession with "medical euthanasia" panders to the widespread denial of the reality of dying and does their membership no service.

When they look at fraud, however, they do have some very good information to offer.

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Specializes in Hospice.

I agree with you on their "medical euthanasia" stuff, but they were born out of the whole Teri Schiavo case. I believe one of Teri's hospice nurse's was a founder? However they are great on researching the facts. I don't think there is a journalist in the country who doesn't use them to get facts for their stories. And lawyers love them as well! I met one of the board members and he told me they have 2 million hits a year to their website, that is pretty impressive. They are very knowledgable folks when it comes to hospice.

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Specializes in Hospice.

Terry Schiavo's situation was a horror show. Too many agendas going on that had absolutely nothing to do with what was best for her. Without rehashing the whole controversy, let me just say that I disagree with the Alliance's position as articulated on their website several years ago.

On the other hand ... I thing they're a great resource for people who need to deal with hospices these days. I do not consider their info authoritative, but certainly thought-provoking. Best for folks to think these through early on and do a "background check" on any hospice they might be considering.

As a hospice nurse, I worked in an IPU that rented their space in an acute care hospital. We tended to get many patients from the hospital's ICU and oncology wards, as well as from their sister facilities in the corporation.

I always got really nervous when a patient or a family member complained about being "pushed" into hospice or being lied to by their care team and/or the hospice rep who evaluated for admission. I always made sure to keep management informed when it came up, but never got any feedback (understandably).

The profit-driven corporate cultures are typically pressured by shareholders to push the ethical/regulatory envelope when it comes to generating revenue. If the company doesn't do that, the shareholders sue or sell you off. Having gone through that three times in five years, I can tell you it's a nightmare.

That some companies still manage to provide good care is due solely to the commitment of the bedside caregivers - nurses, certainly, but also the CNA's, social workers and spiritual care people who make the people who need the care their first priority.

There's no denying that it can be a sleazy business hiding behind a "ministering angel" image. Hospice Patients' Alliance is an important reality-check.

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