Subacute care nurses rely on assessment and judgment rather than equipment. 1440 Kennedy Cswy, Suite 421, North Bay Village, FL 33141. In the last 15 years hospice care has blossomed. From 1984 to 1995, the number of Medicare-certified hospices skyrocketed from 31 to 1,857. Almost three quarters of the patients are older than 65, and cancer is their most common diagnosis.
Hospices hire far more nurses than any other professionals.
At the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, in Largo, Florida, Carol Hagans sees a special need for nurses with experience with infusion services and high-tech care. She expects hospices to continue to grow at 15 to 25 percent a year, fueled by the aging population. But as treatment becomes more complicated, the need for nurses may out pace the rate of patient growth. Acute care hospitals will continue to grow smaller and fewer in number as less intensive services spin off to less expensive alternative organizations. In short, the general hospital will be replaced by an ultra high-tech hospital.