Jost930

lpoore - Brightree staff are very helpful, we did look to switching from Allscripts to Brightree. It does run on iPad and has a lot to offer. There isn't a 'perfect' EMR out there. I have a feeling hospice is moving towards a more standardized charting process (think OASIS). You said you are using Mumms, has your agency made the move to Hummingbird? I saw a demo and it really impressed me but i haven't heard if it's live yet.

Weatherbee has a great hospice boot camp. Additional Resources - Weatherbee Resources, Inc. - Hospice Consulting Services I attended one a few years back and was one of the best seminars I've attended.

We are exploring EMRs as well. chopwood carrywater - how is Brightree with homecare? and I was let to believe improvements are soon for IPU? Would like to talk to anyone currently using Brightree to hear pros and cons. I've see a few systems and realize each one will have pros and cons - like to hear from users what general thoughts are.

Is anyone else finding it hard to support in-patient level of care for your hospice patients? We are trying to follow NGS / medicare guidelines and try all interventions in the home first as well as trying not to transfer patients to in-patient unit (GIP) if actively dying and the patient happens to be 'comfortable'. This is particularly difficult as we also ask end of life preference (home/facility) and many pts / caregivers want to transfer to facility 'when the time comes' however NGS does not consider 'actively dying' a valid reason to bill GIP level of care. Of course if there is caregiver breakdown/stress we try to bring in at respite or routine homecare rate. Has anyone come up with another use for beds on inpatient unit if you are struggling to keep them filled? I work at a hospice with a homecare census around 100, and around 40 nursing home pt census. Our free-standing unit has 10 GIP beds. We also have 10 residential beds which remain 100% full 99% of the time. Thanks for any suggestions / ideas!

We encourage new applicants to shadow for a day so you get an idea of what to expect. Ask the hospice if they allow this. Good Luck! Admissions seems to run very different at each hospice.

Tencat, you should check your facility contract, the new CoPs clearly designate that Hospice maintains 'professional management' and that should be included in your contract with SNF. You should have your Plan of Care in pts chart and that would include the comfort measures you mentioned. The CoPs also dictate that the hospice is responsible for education of hospice philosophy and services to nursing home staff - use this opportunity to educate. In my experience our medical director prefers not to confront or direct another PMD, we find calling 'team meeting' with DON, primary nurse and her hospice supervisor seems to be effective most times. Good luck!

I am trying to make IDG meetings as informative and effecient as possible. We currently review approx 30-35 pts/week and meeting is 3 1/2 hrs long. We utilize Misys for visits but not the problem/care plan section. Does anyone have a creative ideas that you've implemented or willing to share how to keep 'team time' productive and to the point? Do you document 'minutes' from your team meetings? :typing Thanks for any help.......

We have been using misys for about 3 yrs now, admission nurse works 8 hr shift, expectation is 2 admissions/day however we are trying to look at different models that allow 3 admissions per 8hr shift. Homecare nurses do point of care data entry, if not done in the home the expectation is documentation is completed prior to starting next visit. We use the assessment and a clinical note, not using problem charting.

I work for Hospice and they were just switching to Misys when I started so I don't have anything to compare it to. I have been using Misys to chart phone call records, and enter pt information in the office and love it. It is much better than hand writing the notes - especially since my handwriting is awful! I love having access to the information without all the papers. We are just begining to get the laptops to use the assessment portion when in pt homes and I am looking forward to trying it. I'll be checking back for any tips or suggestions you may have or tweaks you would suggest. I will post after my first week with the laptop and give update.

I work for Hospice and they were just switching to Misys when I started so I don't have anything to compare it to. I have been using Misys to chart phone call records, and enter pt information in the office and love it. It is much better than hand writing the notes - especially since my handwriting is awful! I love having access to the information without all the papers. We are just begining to get the laptops to use the assessment portion when in pt homes and I am looking forward to trying it. I'll be checking back for any tips or suggestions you may have or tweaks you would suggest. I will post after my first week with the laptop and give update.