Hello out there......anybody there?

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Hello All,

I have loved the idea of hospice since before I was a nurse. I have had in-laws and a parent in hospice and I greatly appreciate the principles of hospice and a "good" death.

My question is, where are the IPUs going? I truly want to work in an inpatient facility, but at least where I live, the opportunities are few and far between. Many have closed, I believe, in response to medicare payment issues.

I really do not want to work in home health.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

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They're closing bc of high costs of operation along with a decrease on pmts from Medicare as well as a decrease in pts who have private insurance coverage. The folks who had that coverage often had a good Union job - at least here in Michigan. And the current plans don't have the coverage. And the folks who had it are older now and dying.

And to be honest many people prefer dying at home.

I have done both. I love both. But my preference is home hospice. And I love the group I work with.

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Specializes in Hospice.

The company I work for has an IPU. I work there and in the field. We are a small unit, 12 beds. We are not a hospice house but a short term symptom management unit. Very few hospices in my area have inpatient units.

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The company I work for has a 12 bed IPU. We have had a difficult time keeping beds filled, particularly with GIP patients, at times de-staffing due to no patients. Our choice was to close or contract with other hospices that does not have an IPU. We contract with them for respite and GIP. This has been difficult but it has kept the doors open and staff working

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Specializes in Hospice Nursing.

My agency has 2 IPUs. The one I work in is pretty consistently full (40 beds). Our other unit runs pretty full as well. I am not sure why such a difference in what everyone else is reporting. We also have a dedicated continuous care team

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My agency has 2 IPUs. The one I work in is pretty consistently full (40 beds). Our other unit runs pretty full as well. I am not sure why such a difference in what everyone else is reporting. We also have a dedicated continuous care team

It could be related to the number of IPUs compared to population density and number of those people who have inpatient insurance coverage. Whatever the reason I'm glad to know you're there for the people you serve.

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