Starting a Hospice Business

Identification

A hospice business can consist of a facility that provides room, board and end-of-life care for patients. A company that provides hospice care also may send trained health care workers, counselors and advisers to the patient's home. According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, more than 3,500 hospice programs are operating in the United States. Hospice care focuses on the quality of care and the kinds of services offered to dying patients and their families rather than the setting in which the services are provided. Services provided by a hospice business include counseling on pain management options, advisory services to the family to help them understand what to expect and respite care to give family caretakers breaks. Hospice services are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Permits

The hospice industry is highly regulated by the federal government. While nurses, doctors and aides in the industry are required to carry additional training certifications to become hospice workers, the owners of the businesses must also follow a wide range of rules. In order to receive Medicare payments, which play a significant role in hospice funding, a hospice business must keep detailed assessment and treatment records, conform to guidelines that direct the types of services a company can provide and confirm the licenses of all personnel. Look for a complete list of all the federal guidelines through the National Archives and Records Administration Electronic Code database for hospice care under Title 42. Contact your state health department to find out what kinds of permits and business licenses are required to do business in your state. An on-site hospice facility must receive many more permits such as occupancy and health code certifications.

Start-up Funding

You can start a hospice business that acts as a staffing agency with very little initial funding. You could even start one out of your home, utilizing your computer and telephone to find clients and send out the hospice team. A health care facility, on the other hand, can run into the millions for construction or renovations costs. To build the business, develop contacts through hospitals, oncology practices and senior centers in your community. Find staff through advertising and local chapters of various health care trade groups. Visit schools that train nurses and hospice care workers to recruit staff. Invest in a software program such as Suncoast Solutions that develops platforms specifically for hospice businesses to manage the operations, handle billings and integrate marketing strategies.

Staff

A hospice team interacts with primary physicians and spiritual guides to set up a quality-of-life program for the patient and surrounding family. Most hospice businesses take advantage of volunteers to fill in the gaps between nursing care and professional counselors. In addition, Medicare requires that any nonprofit or for-profit hospice company must provide volunteer services to patients in order to qualify as a Medicare provider. Set up a volunteer training program through organizations such as The Heal Project, which provides an online course for hospice volunteers. Find nurses and nursing assistants who have completed training and received hospice certification from the National Board for Certification of Hospice & Palliative Care Nurses.