DNV GL Healthcare continues to expand its product offerings to US hospitals by offering a new three-year certification for inpatient palliative care programmes.
Palliative care is one of the greatest healthcare needs for the U.S. population, particularly as it ages and chronic illnesses take their toll. It is usually considered an option for patients who are not terminally ill, but are in poor health from a specific serious medical condition and are not expected to improve. Palliative care programmes can include pain management, closely coordinated care for the patient, discussions about future care planning, and psychosocial and spiritual support for the patient and their family members.
There are 1,100 palliative care programmes operating in 1,300 hospitals and other provider settings nationwide, according to data from the National Palliative Care Registry. 400 new hospital-based programmes are introduced every year.
Certification brings peace of mind to patients, as well as payment from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Medicare programme.
As part of the certification process, DNV GL Healthcare reviews palliative care programmes for compliance.
In 2018, the state of California made the availability of palliative care benefits mandatory for the 14 million enrolees in Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid programme.
The majority of hospitals choose accreditation to be eligible to receive federal funds and reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid programmes.
Hundreds of hospitals across the United States have switched to DNV GL Healthcare over the past decade. The organization accredits more than 500 hospitals in 49 states.
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