Comparison of the high-tech service delivery experiences of hospice and non-hospice home health providers

Hosp J. 1998;13(3):1-20. doi: 10.1080/0742-969x.1998.11882897.

Abstract

This study examined the degree to which national samples of hospice and non-hospice home health care agencies (N = 154) present different organizational profiles and grapple with different patient capacity issues when delivering technology-enhanced services to incapacitated elderly. Hospice agencies employ more part-time staff, make more in-home visits, see more high-tech patients, and provide a wider range of high-tech services than non-hospice providers. Factor analysis of index data confirms that hospice staff have more experience (p < .05) addressing the legal/ethical dimensions of care. Specifically, hospices deal with "right to die" issues more often (p < .05), but not with "delegation of authority" and "patient rights" issues. More agencies of both types have policies for handling decisions about life-sustaining treatment than for dealing with patients having questionable decision-making capacity. Needed agency policies for dealing with limited patient decision-making capacity in hospice and non-hospice home care agencies are reviewed.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Decision Making, Organizational
  • Factor Analysis, Statistical
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Home Care Services / organization & administration*
  • Hospices / organization & administration*
  • Humans
  • Organizational Policy*
  • Patient Advocacy
  • Technology, High-Cost*
  • United States