Hospice News Releases 2022 Industry Outlook Survey Report

Results highlight the keys to recovery in 2022 with respect to clinical and operational efficiency, staffing, and the shift toward value-based care.

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Aging Media Network

Mar 10, 2022, 10:00 ET

CHICAGO, March 10, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Hospice News, an Aging Media publication, has published the results of its 2022 Hospice Outlook Survey, identifying the foremost challenges and opportunities for care providers in the year ahead. Results show that participants are optimistic about emerging growth areas and technology heading into a critical recovery phase, with 52% planning to pursue palliative care for the first time. Additionally, nearly half of respondents cited agency processes optimization and automation as a key area for cost savings in 2022, and they are investing in new technology to prepare for the evolution of hospice moving forward.

Hospice News conducted the survey in partnership with Homecare Homebase to learn how providers are navigating the difficult road to recovery and growth in a post-pandemic future. The results show the views of 203 hospice and palliative care professionals in a variety of leadership roles and organizations, painting a vivid picture of the industry-wide sentiment for the year to come.

These results provide perspective and context around the industry's outlook on 2022, revealing the key factors driving optimism in spite of the lingering challenges of COVID-19.

In summary, respondents indicated:

  • Assisted Living (36%), and skilled nursing facilities (30%) are projected to be the top growth areas in 2022, according to the survey
  • Staffing continues to be a significant challenge for hospice and palliative care providers in 2022, with more than 67% citing staffing as the greatest non-covid related challenge this year
  • Hospice and palliative care providers are leveraging data and technology to maximize operational efficiency and improve outcomes, with nearly half of respondents citing agency processes optimization and automation as a key area for cost savings in 2022
  • The expansion of palliative care is in full force, with 52% of participants planning to pursue it for the first time in 2022

"Hospice growth continues to be a focus of provider partners in the industry, including the expansion of services such as palliative care and hospital-in-the-home models that extend the types of home-based care provided. The pandemic, while initially slowing growth, has ultimately served as a catalyst for this expansion, creating an opportunity for providers to serve patients like never before. We are excited to see the results of the survey mirror this optimism, while also highlighting the areas of largest collective challenge around staffing. These factors combine to highlight the need for technology that fully enables agencies to operate more efficiently while also understanding the fluid dynamics of their business through better insights and analytics," said Scott Decker, CEO Homecare Homebase."

"New challenges and opportunities will play an equal role in shaping the future of hospice care at the tail end of the pandemic," said Hospice News Editor Jim Parker. "The industry is optimistic, however, and the results from our survey with Homecare Homebase explore the key factors behind that sentiment, from technological advancements to the expansion of palliative care."

The survey was conducted online between November 22, 2021, and December 20, 2021. Access the full survey results here.

About Aging Media Network and Hospice News

Aging Media Network is an innovative publishing company based in Chicago, Illinois, and is the publisher of Senior Housing News, Home Health Care News, Skilled Nursing News, Hospice News, and Behavioral Health Business. Hospice News is the leading source for news and information covering the hospice and palliative care industries.

About Homecare Homebase

Homecare Homebase is a Dallas-based software leader offering hosted, cloud-based solutions to streamline operations, simplify compliance and boost clinical and financial outcomes for home-based care agencies. Our customized mobile solutions enable real-time, wireless data exchange and communication between field clinicians, physicians and office staff for better care, more accurate reporting and improved revenue cycle management. Founded by industry veterans in 1999, HCHB empowers over 200,000 users to service more than 800,000 patients daily, resulting in over one hundred million visits per year. The company is part of the Hearst Health network. For more information, visit hchb.com or call us toll-free at 1- 866-535-HCHB (4242).

Media Contact

George Yedinak, Aging Media Network, 312.809.5755, [email protected]

SOURCE Aging Media Network