Getting time in when far from office

[military spouse]

Hello all,

Our hospice has decided to develop a team that will serve a different region of a metro area (about 50 miles away). Most of our patients and group homes will not allow visits before 0900 or 0930 (after breakfast) and we aren't paid for our time to our first visit or from our last visit. We are anywhere from 1 hr. 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes to the office based on traffic and we are trying to figure out how to get out time. Currently, our day might look like this:

paperwork at home 0730 to 0830

unpaid time enroute to first patient 0830 to 0915 (sometimes longer)

paid time through afternoon while seeing patients

unpaid time to get to our home offices

paid time at home office (paper charting, telephone calls, faxing,etc.)

Also, on IDT days, we have to be at office at 0800, which means we leave about 0630 for unpaid time and unpaid mileage. I worked hospice once before, but was much closer to the office and with this hospice we were told that we would only go to the office 1 time per month, but that has increased.

We are getting little info from mgt and it's almost impossible to get 40 hours, yet we are responsible and answering calls from 0800 to 1700. Does anyone else have a similar situation and how are you handling it? It is just too far and too time-consuming to go to the office. I really like my job, but I'm not sure how to fill out my timesheet and questions directed at mgt received vaguest and ambiguous answers. This is a new concept for this hospice and I'm not sure they know what to do with those of us hired to build this team on the opposite side of the metro area. HELP!!!!

[jeannepaul, BSN]

That is the way most hospices work. I live an hour away from the office and I don't get paid anything to that 1st or last pt's house either when I work during the week. The weekend is different, being on call it is paid mileage door to door, thank goodness, or I would be out alot of gas and money!

Each company makes their own rules, so I would sit down with them and see what they will be willing to do.

good luck!