As hospice providers prepare for the rollout of the new HOPE (Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation) assessment, it’s a critical moment to reflect—not just on what we document, but how and why we gather the information that drives care.
HOPE isn’t just a compliance tool—it’s a chance to reframe our approach to end-of-life care by placing the patient’s full experience at the center. It challenges us to move beyond checkbox assessments and toward conversations that uncover meaning, discomfort, priorities, and goals.
Are You Asking the Right Questions?
One of the most powerful ways clinicians can improve care is by learning to ask better questions—questions that invite story, context, and connection, not just data.
Instead of “Do you have pain?”, try:
- “What activities cause you to have pain?”
- “When you stop the activity, how long does it take to feel better?”
- “What would you like to do that you can’t do right now because of pain?”
These types of questions create space for patients to share what matters most—and help clinicians uncover needs that may otherwise go unspoken. It also allows for more accurate symptom severity and impact ratings, particularly when assessing non-verbal patients or working through caregiver reports.
Symptom Impact = Human Experience
The HOPE tool includes symptom impact ratings for pain, shortness of breath, and other conditions. But the real value comes when we connect those ratings to the patient’s lived experience:
- What are they no longer able to do?
- How has their function or quality of life changed?
- What role does medication (or lack of it) play in what they’re still able to enjoy?
This type of narrative-driven documentation isn’t just more accurate—it supports stronger care plans, better interdisciplinary communication, and more meaningful hospice experiences for patients and families.
From Data to Compassionate Care
True holistic hospice care means treating the whole person—body, mind, spirit, and family. The HOPE assessment gives us a structure, but it’s up to the care team to bring it to life with empathy, curiosity, and creativity.
By asking better questions, documenting what matters, and connecting symptom data to real-life impacts, hospice clinicians can build care plans that are not only clinically sound—but deeply compassionate.
Want to Learn More?
Explore how to turn the HOPE assessment into a meaningful tool for holistic care in our webinar.
FREE Webinar | Using HOPE to Guide Meaningful, Patient-Centered Hospice
About the Author
Michelle Horner, Manager of Clinical Consulting & Education
Michelle Horner, BSN, RN, HCS-O, HCS-D, HCS-H, COS-S is the Clinical Consulting and Education Manager for McBee. With over 30 years of healthcare experience, Michelle Horner is a leading expert in home health and hospice. As Manager of Clinical Consulting & Education at McBee, she excels in Quality, Clinical, and Regulatory Consulting, designing innovative training programs that elevate care standards. A sought-after speaker at industry events, Michelle captivates audiences with her expertise and passion. She serves on the AHCC’s Board of Medical Specialty Coding and Compliance Certification HCS-D and HCS-O Committees, shaping industry standards. Renowned for driving impactful financial and clinical outcomes, Michelle is dedicated to advancing the quality of care in the home care sector.
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