Optimizing Hospice Staffing for Quality End-of-Life Care

Abstract

This project partnered with Preceptor Hospice in Wisconsin, a nonprofit provider of end-of-life care. The purpose was to address the organization’s challenge of balancing staff capacity with census fluctuations to maintain high-quality patient care. The study employed a mixed-methods design including analysis of historical census data, staff and family survey results, and interviews to evaluate staffing thresholds against quality indicators. Findings revealed that hospice staffing directly correlates with census stability and care quality, with evidence pointing to critical staffing indicators that should guide workforce planning and policy recommendations.