POSSIBLE QUANTIFIABLE VALUES/MEASURES TO SUPPORT HOSPICE SERVICES
The patient’s documentation to support hospice services needs to include information that is specific to the patient being assessed. Example, it may include:
- Change in Patient’s Weight: For instance “10% or more weight loss in the last 3”
- Worsening Diagnostic Lab Results (Increase, Decrease)
- Change in pain (Ache, Throb, Sharp), Intensity (Level 0-10), Location (Upper, Lower)
- Frequency: (Hourly, Daily).
- Medication Usage: (Dosage, Frequency)
- Change in Responsiveness: (Fading, Alert, Unresponsive)
- Skin Thickness/Condition: (Fragile, Intact, Tears Easily)
- Dependence on ADLs: (Occurrence of Incontinence).
- Dress (Assisted, Unassisted). Bathe (Assisted, Unassisted).
- Ambulation Ability: (Assisted, Unassisted). Ambulation Distance: (feet, steps)
- Change in Anthropomorphic Measures: (Upper Arm Measurement-MAC).
- Abdominal Girth Measurements.
- Change in Signs: Respirator rate (Increased, Decreased).
- Oxygen Flow Rate: (Liters).
- Hyper/hypotension.
- Radial/Apical Pulse: (Tachycardic, Bradycardic, Regular, Irregular)
- Edema Level: (Level 1-4, Pitting, Non-pitting).
- Skin Turgor: (slow, normal).
- Change in Strength/Weakness: (level 0-5).
- Change in Lucidity: (oriented, confused).
- Measurements/Change in Intake/Outtake: Amount (cup, liters, ounces, teaspoons, mgs, ml, cc.) Frequency.