Duke Homecare & Hospice

My father and my family's very brief (1 week) experience with Duke Hospice was disappointing at best and an utter failure at worst. My father was released from Duke Hospital on April 19 and died April 26. In that time, our various calls, requests and please for assistance to hospice went unanswered for hours, the information we received from various providers was inconsistent, and overall the experience left us feeling even more bereft and alone than simply living through my father's death would have. The director of Duke Hospice, upon learning from one of the providers after my father's death that we were "disappointed" called to inquire about that at 6:15 PM on the day after my father died. I finally managed to return her call and leave her a message five days later, the intervening time take up with everything that needs to happen after a loved one dies. I'm still waiting for a call back, just like the rest of our experience with Duke Hospice. If I had know I had a choice, I might have researched this more carefully. I will never use them again.
1 7 years ago (03-05-2018)

I have used Duke HomeCare & Hospice twice and would never use them again. The first time, I had a bad experience with the nurses who were sent to my home. I had to have abdominal shots for 14 days. I went through about three nurses before I finally felt semi-comfortable with someone doing the shots. The first nurses who came over either had body piercings or tattoos. In addition, the first several nurses were not very skillful in administering the shots, which made them unnecessarily painful. It did not seem as though they really cared. My second experience with Duke HomeCare & Hospice occurred recently, after the shoulder surgery. I was assigned home health aides, a physical therapist, and an occupational therapist. The physical therapist, Robin, who acted as the case manager, wanted to discharge me after the second visit! In addition, she came two days prior to the appointed day. She denied that she had made the earlier appointment, basically lying about it. The next appointment was for the following week. When I called to confirm the appointment, since I had not heard from Robin and based on my previous experience with her, she told me that the appointment had been cancelled! She also had her manager contact my physician and tell him that PT was not necessary. This was outrageous, not to mention unethical and unprofessional. Not only did I need PT to strengthen my core, Duke HomeCare had no business going behind my back to my physician, especially when he had provided the prescription for PT. If I had not contacted Robin, I would not have known that she was not intending to show up for the appointment. In other words, cancelling without notifying the patient! The occupational therapist, Kati Soleil, was average as a therapist. In fact, the last time she was here, I had to ask her about specific assisted range of motion exercises (that were supposed to be part of the therapy). I even showed her the physician's recommended progression of exercises and had to go over them with her! She finally produced a sheet of the exercises that I should have already been doing. I do not believe it is the patient who needs to be concerned about specific exercises and the order of them for rehabilitating the shoulder. In addition, the previous week, Kati wanted to start talking about a discharge process. I told her that I would be happy to start the process the following week. She also told me that she would add a session to help me with showering, so that I could do it by myself without worrying about a fall. The next time I saw Kati, she brought with her a manager from Duke HomeCare with the papers for the discharge, even though she was capable of giving me the papers herself. This was a complete surprise to me, especially since we had already agreed to have the conversation. Also, I do not believe it is ethical to have someone from Duke HomeCare show up at the patient's home without telling the patient. In any case, Kati decided not to show up for the second appointment that week and Duke HomeCare simply cancelled the remaining week and a half of appointments. Finally, although I was supposed to continue with a home health aide to help with the showering, Duke HomeCare cancelled the home health aide without telling me as well! It is evident from my experience that I was not treated with respect and courtesy, nor was I given all the care and services that were appropriate and that were prescribed by my physician. Appointments were cancelled with notifying me, a home health aide was abruptly stopped without notifying me, the occupational therapist brought someone new into my home without notifying me, the occupational therapist did not do all of the required exercises for rehabilitating my shoulder, and Duke HomeCare did not complete the required program of rehabilitation. Duke HomeCare did not meet its contractual obligations. I will be requesting an investigation of this company from the appropriate federal agency
1 7 years ago (28-01-2018)

I will elaborate further once my Dad is receiving services elsewhere.
1 7 years ago (01-03-2018)

Excellent care and nurses.
5 9 years ago (07-06-2016)