Art of Hospice Visit Planning: A Clinical Guide to Patient-Centered Care Frequency

Discover a transformative approach to hospice nursing visit planning that will revolutionize your practice and enhance patient care. This comprehensive guide bridges the gap between basic visit scheduling and strategic care delivery, offering proven methodologies for determining optimal visit frequencies that improve patient outcomes and family satisfaction.

Drawing from real-world hospice experiences, this practical resource introduces the innovative Sunset Assessment Scale alongside traditional evaluation tools, providing a complete framework for making informed visit frequency decisions. Learn how to identify early warning signs of decline, implement proactive PRN visits, and develop effective documentation strategies that support your clinical judgment.

Through detailed case studies and practical examples, you'll master:

• Strategic visit planning that prevents crises and reduces after-hours calls
• Objective assessment methods that enhance clinical decision-making
• Documentation techniques that support visit frequency changes
• Family education strategies that build caregiver confidence
• Team communication protocols that improve care coordination

This guide addresses common challenges faced by hospice nurses, including:

• Determining appropriate visit frequencies based on patient needs
• Managing complex caseloads efficiently
• Meeting Medicare requirements while maintaining patient-centered care
• Improving CAHPS scores and family satisfaction
• Preventing crisis situations through proactive planning

Each chapter builds upon foundational concepts, progressing from basic visit planning principles to advanced considerations for complex cases. The book includes practical tools, assessment scales, and implementation strategies that can be immediately applied to your practice.

Whether you're a new hospice nurse seeking guidance or an experienced clinical manager looking to optimize team performance, this resource provides the tools needed to:

• Transform reactive care into proactive support
• Enhance the quality of patient care
• Reduce staff burnout through efficient scheduling
• Improve documentation compliance
• Strengthen interdisciplinary team communication

Special attention is given to crisis prevention through strategic PRN visit planning, helping you anticipate and address potential issues before they escalate. The book's approach to family education and support will help you build caregiver confidence while reducing after-hours calls and emergency situations.

Written in a conversational style that combines clinical expertise with practical wisdom, this guide offers the theoretical framework and hands-on strategies needed to excel in today's challenging hospice environment. Each concept is illustrated through real patient scenarios, making the material immediately applicable to your daily practice.

The Sunset Assessment Scale provides an objective tool for determining visit frequencies, while integration strategies help you combine this new approach with traditional assessment methods. This balanced perspective ensures you can implement changes while maintaining the best aspects of your current practice.

This essential resource is ideal for:

• New hospice nurses seeking structured guidance
• Experienced nurses looking to enhance their practice
• Clinical managers working to optimize team performance
• Hospice organizations aiming to improve quality metrics
• Nursing educators developing staff training programs

Transform your approach to hospice visit planning and elevate the quality of care you provide. This practical guide will help you develop the skills and confidence to make informed visit frequency decisions that effectively serve your patients and your organization.