Every finding on record at Applegate Homecare & Hospice, LLC

Based on interview and record review, it was determined the hospice agency did not include an initial bereavement assessment as part of the comprehensive assessment within five days of the election of hospice care for 9 of 14 sampled patients who had been admitted to the hospice agency. (Patient Identifiers: 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14) Findings include: A review of 14 patient medical records was completed from 3/25/2025 through 3/31/2025. For 9 of the 14 patients, initial bereavement assessments were found to be completed later than 5 days after the election of hospice care. Surveyors requested and reviewed the agencys policy titled ";Hospice Initial and Comprehensive Assessment." According to the policy, initial bereavement assessments were to be completed with the comprehensive assessment no later than 5 calendar days after the election of hospice care. In an interview with the agency director of nursing (DON) at 4:00 PM on 3/25/2025, the DON stated the initial bereavement assessments should be completed by the registered nurse or social worker at each patients start of care, but that the bereavement assessments were sometimes late.