Part Two | Dr. Joan Teno Exposes the Hidden Problems with Hospice Ratings and Quality Scores

Can consumers really trust hospice quality ratings?In Part Two of this powerful TCNtalks / Anatomy of Leadership conversation, Chris Comeaux and Cordt Kassner continue their discussion with nationally recognized hospice researcher and policy expert Dr. Joan Teno.Building on Part One, Dr. Teno explores how patients and families can make better-informed hospice decisions, why current quality reporting systems often fall short, and how artificial intelligence could transform the future of hospice quality measurement. She also addresses one of the most pressing challenges facing the industry today: preserving public trust while combating fraud, profiteering, and unethical practices.Drawing from decades of research and policy leadership, Dr. Teno offers a thoughtful perspective on the future of hospice care, the importance of transparency, and the critical role healthcare leaders must play in protecting the integrity of the hospice mission.Whether you’re a hospice professional, healthcare executive, policymaker, clinician, or family caregiver, this episode offers valuable insights into the future of end-of-life care.Key Takeaways:✔ Why consumers need better tools to evaluate hospice quality✔ How AI could improve hospice transparency and decision-making✔ The risks of oversupply, profiteering, and declining public trust✔ Why quality data should empower both providers and families✔ The extraordinary impact hospice clinicians continue to make every day✔ The future of hospice care, accountability, and patient choiceChapters:0:00    Welcome And Part Two Setup0:21    A Better Way To Find Hospice3:06    Weighting Scores Without Punishing Small Programs6:01    The Denominator Problem Behind Star Ratings10:58  Rural Hospice Reality And The Willie Sutton Rule12:08  AI Can Hallucinate Hospice Quality16:47  Public Trust And A Saturated Hospice Market23:36  Ghost Hospices And Which Data To Trust26:04  Do CAHPS Questions Still Fit Hospice Today27:44  Concurrent Care And Why Hospice Stays A Hard Choice33:40  Giving Back Through Mentoring And Substack35:57  Subscribe And The Brain BookmarkGuest: Dr. Joan TenoMD, MS; Adjunct Professor of Health Services, Policy, and Practice (Brown School of Public Health); Adjunct Staff, RAND CorporationCo-Host: Cordt Kassner, PhD, Publisher of Hospice & Palliative Care Today & CEO and Founder of Hospice AnalyticsHost: Chris Comeaux, President / CEO of TELEIOS, author of The Anatomy of LeadershipTeleios Collaborative Network   /   https://www.teleioscn.org/tcntalkspodcast