Independant Consultant End-Of-Life Care

[donna63]

Hi Everyone...what a great forum! You guys all are awesome!!

Ok...I am very interested in starting a hospice agency (probably not called hospice because I will be taking only private pay clients...so we will provide end-of-life care. Medicare rule.)

Has anyone done this before, and would you be willing to have your brain picked?? I have a partner, and we are very motivated. We have both been working in hospice for a large corporate (national) provider.

I thank you...any of you...in advance for any insight, feedback, ideas etc. etc. etc.

Donna

[tewdles, RN]

Your current hospice agency does not take "private pay" patients?

[GeriatrxRN]

I work in home care, not hospice, but was wondering where/how you would generate your clients, since you would be competing with medicare, a free service.

[tewdles, RN]

I work in home care, not hospice, but was wondering where/how you would generate your clients, since you would be competing with medicare, a free service.

You generate patients through referrals...either personal or professional. My experience is that non medicare patients make up a very small number of hospice appropriate people. In my hospice, the majority of the private pay patients are pediatric or adolescent. All of those patients typically come to use because the docs, the nurses at the hospitals, and the word of mouth is that our hospice is commited to and quite good at this care.

I am sure that you are quite aware that home care is much different than hospice. If your experience is primarily in CHC you will want to bring someone onto your team who has a passion for hospice.