I won't blatantly say medicare fraud, but something sure looks like a duck and walks like one. I had a new admit who the kaiser hospice nurse told me during my initial report was completely unable to use her right side, and could not walk. When i met the woman, i saw her moving her arm just fine, i handed her a cup of coffee and a donut, and the hospice nurse and the daughter were about to have a coronary until they saw my resident using both hands and doing just fine. The resident told me, i want to walk again. i asked her why hadn't she been, and she told me that they said she was hospice and no one would help her retain her ability to bear weight, that and she had +3 weeping edema bilat on the lower extremities and it hurt. i asked the kaiser hospice nurse about PT and she said in a very rude manner, "NO, She is hospice!" , i waited a moment and then asked how about adaptive eating devices and the nurse repeated in an even more annoyed and patronizing tone, "I said she is hospice, so no that falls under occupational therapy'. Just to make sure I heard her correctly, I asked her, " So you are telling me that since she's hospice we shouldn't try and keep her as high functioning as possible, and her quality of life as full as possible?". She told me once again as if i were a complete Dolt, " I told you she is hospice, there is nothing more we can do but keep her comfortable." let me explain exactly what this hospice patient is like, as she describes herself she is "Fat Sassy and ****** and not just going to lay there and Die". The family had been listening to this hospice program and had been keeping her in a state of learned helplessness, well this woman is a fighter and and she and I both when I wrap her legs with kerlix (i'm going to hell because the hospice nurse told me i'm not to do it..but yet, my resident cried when she woke up and saw her ankles for the first time and no longer has any weeping edema)" I'm not dead yet" upon investigation , just because every day I battle with Kaiser and i'm getting sick of it, I found the federal statute that states that hospice patients may get PT/OT/ST. I gave the family information, and my ED and the family who has a sibling that is high up in the kaiser family is ****** OFF! i informed them about the Kaiser contracts many other organizations have with them that can provide the same assistance which kaiser did not disclose to them and they are in the process of questioning why they weren't told and why federally mandated therapy if requested was denied. This is not an isolated case, i have heard from several in my vicinity that it is standard practice, but no one wants to say anything because of fear of losing their jobs. I've had enough, so has my ED when repeatedly Kaiser tries to dump our residents (one they wanted back in our facility one day after 5 stent placements and another that had GI Bleed, and as the ambulance was gurneying our resident into the facility the case manager was on the phone saying that they were discharging and where could she fax us his papers). I have urged my parents to leave kaiser which they thankfully have. Please continue to advocate for your patients, especially hospice. While it is a "death sentence" it doesn't mean they are dead yet!
I made the mistake of working for a for profit hospice agency. We were told to chart decline only and did not offer therapy services. One nurse reported a family to Adult Protective Services and our manager was livid. She called a mandatory meeting stating all reports of abuse go through her first for approval to report to APS in order to "manage our bottom line". I quit after three weeks. I needed a job bad too. But if you stand for nothing, you fall for anything. I received my dream job a month later. Good job advocating for the patient.
Specializes in Telemetry, Orthop/Surg, ER,StepDown.
I work in hospice - not for profit organization - and we routinely schedule anyone able to benefit from restorative therapy for same. We also sometimes d/c for improvement. Hospice done right actually extends life and its quality.
I totally agree with you, and have had two patients graduate from hospice in a positive direction!
I have reported it to my ED, I sat down and talked with the family and then all of us had a meeting. We tried to get in touch with the higher ups at kaiser through phone calls, email and wrote a letter. We are now contacting Medicare.
Thanks to you all for the insight.
And to the poster who has such love for Kaiser, You are preaching to the choir. I spend my days trying to fight with them, they are what drive me to want to explore alcoholism.
Wow I tend to trust my higher up's where I work, glad I don't work for a company I feel isn't on the up and up. thanks for reminding me that I am fortunate.
Specializes in Telemetry, Orthop/Surg, ER,StepDown.
She passed away yesterday. She gave up because she said what was the use...she didn't want to sit around. I'm heartbroken. I'm moving how the food chain and going to make someone. Answer for this.
I'm sorry.
lashawn04
26 Posts
I made the mistake of working for a for profit hospice agency. We were told to chart decline only and did not offer therapy services. One nurse reported a family to Adult Protective Services and our manager was livid. She called a mandatory meeting stating all reports of abuse go through her first for approval to report to APS in order to "manage our bottom line". I quit after three weeks. I needed a job bad too. But if you stand for nothing, you fall for anything. I received my dream job a month later. Good job advocating for the patient.