Clinical Excellence

Care Quality & Standards

VNA Care Choices was launched in 2018 when VNA participated in the only Medicare-sponsored home-based palliative care program in North Texas. The program focuses on improving quality of life, patient/family satisfaction, and reduction of emergency room visits and acute hospital stays.

The VNA Care Choices Program follows the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Medicare Care Choices Model (MCCM). The Care Choices program is guided by the Conditions of Participation for Hospice, ensuring consistent and high-quality care for your patients.

Since inception in January 2018, 347 patients have been accepted into the program, with 77% eventually transitioning to hospice care.

Of patients and families surveyed, 100% would recommend VNA Care Choices, according to the Medicare Care Choices Model Quarterly Hospice Report Q2 2020-Q1 2021 published by the Lewin Group.

Here are some clinical quality measures of our Care Choices Program as compared to MCCM participant benchmarks.

Patients who received a pain screening during assessments

VNA 99.4%

MCCM Average 99.6%

Patients who were screened for bowel regimen related to opioid use

VNA 100%

MCCM Average 99.7%

Patients who were screened for shortness of breath

VNA 99.4%

MCCM Average 99.4%

Palliative care patients who have no ER visits

VNA 97.3%

MCCM Average 95.2%

Palliative care patients who have not had hospital admissions

VNA 95.3%

MCCM Average 90.7%