Productivity Versus Case Management in Hospice

Abstract

Many factors influence the quality and efficiency of the service provided by a hospice. In end-of-life care, the quality of service is measured by the experiences of patients and families. Although cost containment is important, there are many opportunities to save money and most do not involve cutting labor costs. Productivity and caseload affect the cost of labor and both measurements affect the quality of care. A review of all costs and processes including areas such as off-hours staffing can uncover areas for savings. Many factors must be considered. If customer responsiveness by the hospice agency is perceived as poor, referrals will drop. No matter what reductions are implemented, care quality as well as cost containment outcomes must be measured to determine the impact. Case management is one strategy that provides oversight for efficient and effective care but caseloads for professional staff must be established at reasonable levels.