Health professionals are a very crucial part of any successful hospice business. The Medicare Hospice Conditions of Participation notes that a hospice medical director will either have to be a doctor of medicine or osteopathy. Have it in mind that the duties of this medical director will include the management of the hospice’s patient care program and certifying that hospice patients are terminally ill and therefore eligible to receive hospice care.
Owing to these regulatory conditions, and the steadily increasing complexities of the hospice industry, it is necessary for every hospice to have physicians and other health professionals who will see to the needs of patients. A hospice business will also need a physician to cover for the medical director while he or she is on vacation.
All health professionals associated with a hospice business are collectively known as “hospice clinicians.” The primary duties of hospice clinicians involve offering healthcare and support to a patient with a severe or chronic illness.
Most often, they will work with patients to put together a treatment plan, noting strategies to limit discomfort while improving their quality of life. Their regular duties also include communicating with the patient and their family and analyzing every available treatment that is critical for their situation.
A hospice care team will often be made up of different professionals that work with the patient and their family. The team is made up of palliative care specialist doctors and nurses and includes others such as social workers, nutritionists, and chaplains. Note that a person’s team may vary based on their needs and level of care.
Steps to Choose Clinicians for an In-Home Hospice Business
If you’re thinking of hiring clinicians for an in-home hospice business, here are steps to consider;
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Plan to Choose Clinicians
Have it in mind that the most important thing to look for in your clinicians is kindness and compassion, as they have to interact with very sick patients and grieving families every day. When starting up, the owner can choose to serve as a counselor.
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Put Together a Recruiting Strategy
When searching for doctors, nurses, and mental health professionals, it is most preferable to find interviewees by networking. If you can afford it, you should hire a recruiting agency to help you with this. Also, note that you can choose to post job openings online.
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Interview with Confidence
As long as you are detailed with the steps mentioned above, you will end up with many qualified candidates. Remember that the interview is an opportunity to get to know the applicant. All through the interview process, it is recommended you keep in mind that most hospices want clinicians who are:
- Kind
- Honest
- Punctual and reliable
- Great with people
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Carry Out Background Checks
Have it in mind that a good number of states have implemented a process that involves fingerprinting and background checks for its medical professionals, therapists, and in some cases, social workers. However, even if your state does not mandate this background check, your hospice business should carry out background checks on all potential employees.
The primary aim of a background check is to protect vulnerable patients from felons, sexual offenders, and other criminals.
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Be Conversant with Hiring Laws
After you must have chosen a job candidate, there are certain steps you need to follow to complete the hiring process. These processes or regulations usually vary from one state to another, or even from county to county. One of the most vital steps is to classify your new hire as an employee or an independent contractor.
Ensure you are very conversant with IRS guidelines on this matter, as there are serious consequences for misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor.
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Set Up Payroll
After you must have hired your clinicians and have a growing team of employees, it’s time to set up your payroll. Note that using a payroll service provider saves you time, and also helps ensure that you adhere to very necessary federal requirements such as employee tax withholding.
If you don’t want to learn how to do payroll yourself or use a payroll service, consider hiring an accountant. Have it in mind that an experienced accountant can process your payroll and make sure your tax payments and filings are taken care of.
Conclusion
According to reports, the number of people dying at home is growing massively, as is the number in care homes. Experts expect the total number of people dying to keep increasing significantly over the next decade. Hospices tend to make available palliative care to those who have less than six months to live.
You will need doctors and nurses, mental health professionals, and administrative workers to make your hospice run smoothly. Owing to the nature of this work, clinicians are expected to be empathetic, kind, and reassuring to patients and their families.