Keeping the hospice spirit alive in client satisfaction surveys

Funding bodies and accreditation organizations now demand objective data fr om hospice evaluations, and quantitative measures assessing outcomes. This is despite the fact that the goals and outcomes of hospice practice are not reductionist and are not easily quantified. One alternative to this bureau cratic challenge that does not necessitate compromise to hospice ideology i s to develop an assessment tool through qualitative research using phenomen ological data on carers' insights with regard to hospice practice. In this article, the findings from the qualitative research that preceded the devel opment of the assessment tool provide an insight into the key issues that c arers give priority in evaluating a hospice. These findings provide valuabl e baseline data for understanding aspects of hospice practice that are valu ed by carers. The information gathered is a significant affirmation of the success of the hospice ideology and highlights the need to protect this pre cious philosophy. In short, it is an important statement about the need to keep the hospice spirit alive in client satisfaction. The findings from the qualitative study for the questionnaire can be interpreted as an affirmati on to hospice workers that their vision and beliefs are valued and apprecia ted by those they serve.