Tell me about the Liasons where you work.....

[jschut, BSN, RN]

Our liasons are given pretty much reign to promise whatever they want, to say what they want, to do what they want with no recourse. I find this a bit disturbing, to say the least.

Do your liasons search through patient charts for information?

Do your liasons go above the CM's head to the CD and then tell the CM what they want done?

Ours do. Is this a normal behavior in hospice? I'm just not sure what to think of this. It's as if the liasons are above the RNs and not co-worker.

[softrbreeze]

By "liason", I'm assuming you mean marketer? Are you saying they go through charts of people NOT on hospice? If so, that is a HIPAA violation unless a MD has referred them to hospice but, even then, there is no reason for them to go through pt charts. That should be the responsibility of the admitting RN and/or patient care manager to see if they meet hospice criteria. If I am interpreting you correctly, it sounds like they need reigning in.

[jschut, BSN, RN]

That's exactly what I'm saying. She wanted this certain person to be put on our service after I had eval'd and sent the info to our office. She was looking for more information because the eval done by me was a no-go. I swear, it's all a numbers game.... so many patients are brought on that are not eligible.....

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

Any company that supports this type of behavior is one to run away from. Our company has two terrific liaisons who have never promised anything that we don't offer/deliver and have also never questioned a nurse's evaluation. Our marketers are also great about getting us proper referrals.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I had no idea what a "liaison" was in regards to hospice. Certainly don't have any here.

[jschut, BSN, RN]

A liason is a marketer.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

A liason is a marketer.

Someone "markets" hospice? That seems so odd to me.

[toomuchbaloney]

I worked for a company that had designated marketing liaisons. They did market the hospice benefit to groups, businesses, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Those folks did NOT review patient medical records. They ONLY provided a marketing overview of the ways that hospice might be able to help or assist with situations or needs at end of life. They were often speaking at meetings or church groups or community events, etc. They were helpful in meeting the expectations of facilities that might be working with visiting hospice staff for the very first time.

Good luck. It sounds almost like someone needs to review the job description and HIPAA regulations with the liaison staff at your agency.

[vampiregirl, BSN, RN]

"Liaison" must be one of those terms that means different things in different locations...

Our Liaisons visit patients in the hospital who have either requested Hospice or Home Health or if a physician orders a consult. They will see if the patient meets eligibility requirements and which level of care is appropriate for that patient.They explain hospice and/or home health services/ benefits, answer questions and coordinate what DME/ supplies the patient will need upon discharge if they wish to enroll. They work with our intake team and case managers. If the full-time liaison is off on a particular day, often times one of our case managers/ hospice RNs fill in.

When our Liaisons first present info to potential patients, they must ensure that the patient is offered a choice of provider (and will contact another agency if that is what the patient decides). The only exception is that our Hospice is the only inpatient hospice provider at our hospital - if they want a different provider then the patient would need to be transferred. Most patients who qualify for inpatient services are not stable enough to be transferred, at least initially.

[softrbreeze]

"Liaison" must be one of those terms that means different things in different locations...

Our Liaisons visit patients in the hospital who have either requested Hospice or Home Health or if a physician orders a consult. They will see if the patient meets eligibility requirements and which level of care is appropriate for that patient.They explain hospice and/or home health services/ benefits, answer questions and coordinate what DME/ supplies the patient will need upon discharge if they wish to enroll. They work with our intake team and case managers. If the full-time liaison is off on a particular day, often times one of our case managers/ hospice RNs fill in.

.

It sounds like the liasons at your hospice either do or SHOULD have an RN after their names. The liasons at my hospice have no such medical credentials.

[pfeliks]

"Liaison" must be one of those terms that means different things in different locations...

Our Liaisons visit patients in the hospital who have either requested Hospice or Home Health or if a physician orders a consult. They will see if the patient meets eligibility requirements and which level of care is appropriate for that patient.They explain hospice and/or home health services/ benefits, answer questions and coordinate what DME/ supplies the patient will need upon discharge if they wish to enroll. They work with our intake team and case managers. If the full-time liaison is off on a particular day, often times one of our case managers/ hospice RNs fill in.

When our Liaisons first present info to potential patients, they must ensure that the patient is offered a choice of provider (and will contact another agency if that is what the patient decides). The only exception is that our Hospice is the only inpatient hospice provider at our hospital - if they want a different provider then the patient would need to be transferred. Most patients who qualify for inpatient services are not stable enough to be transferred, at least initially.

It sounds to me like your liasons are practicing Nursing without a license. Determination of Eligibility is a Nursing/Doctor decision, not an unlicensed liasons decision.

[jschut, BSN, RN]

"Liaison" must be one of those terms that means different things in different locations...

Our Liaisons visit patients in the hospital who have either requested Hospice or Home Health or if a physician orders a consult. They will see if the patient meets eligibility requirements and which level of care is appropriate for that patient.They explain hospice and/or home health services/ benefits, answer questions and coordinate what DME/ supplies the patient will need upon discharge if they wish to enroll. They work with our intake team and case managers. If the full-time liaison is off on a particular day, often times one of our case managers/ hospice RNs fill in.

When our Liaisons first present info to potential patients, they must ensure that the patient is offered a choice of provider (and will contact another agency if that is what the patient decides). The only exception is that our Hospice is the only inpatient hospice provider at our hospital - if they want a different provider then the patient would need to be transferred. Most patients who qualify for inpatient services are not stable enough to be transferred, at least initially.

That is what ours are supposed to do too... but this one digs in charts if she doesn't agree with what I have to say and calls the clinical director or executive director and they pull ideas (most of them half truths) to get that census up... it just boggles my mind that they are so desperate for numbers that they allow people to do what they are not supposed to....