Business Plan for a New Hospice Program Service Line By Dr. Neil Dworkin

The challenge in this focused project is to consider what basic information should be included in the business plan of a skilled nursing facility’s decision to add a new hospice program service line

First step: Begin with a definition of a hospice (the product definition).

Second step: Identify issues to be addressed in the plan.

It might include:

• Will the service be delivered by the nursing home directly or contracted out (i.e., to a home care agency)?
• What are the relative costs of these two options, especially in regard to the staffing, equipment and training?
• How will the program be funded?
• Will there be an inpatient component? If so, where will the beds come from (i.e., conversion or new construction)?
• Which regulatory requirements are most germane to the program (i.e., Medicare and State)?
• How well does this business plan fit with the organizational mission, values and goals?
• Where does this program rank compared to other organizational priorities?

Required: Prepare a PowerPoint report that includes the hospice definition and the basic issues that should be addressed in the hospice program service line business plan. (Note: refer to Exhibit 23-2 “Basic Information for the Service or Equipment Description” as the guide to formulating a response.