Description
Hospice Leadership Academy: The Core Intensive
With Optional Hospice Clinical Eligibility Master Class
January 19–21, 2027 | Kissimmee (Orlando), Florida
Presented by Hospice Support Specialists, LLC
Real Hospice Leaders Helping Real Hospice Leaders
Develop Stronger Leaders. Build Better Processes. Strengthen Your Hospice Organization.
Exceptional hospice professionals do not automatically become exceptional managers. Clinical expertise, dedication, and experience are essential, but successfully leading a hospice organization requires an additional set of skills.
From regulatory compliance and clinical oversight to financial management, team development, and organizational growth, today’s hospice leaders face increasingly complex responsibilities.
The Hospice Leadership Academy: The Core Intensive is designed to help new and experienced hospice managers develop the knowledge, practical tools, and leadership strategies necessary to manage their programs more confidently and effectively.
This interactive educational experience goes beyond traditional classroom instruction. During the two-day Core Intensive, participants will develop a comprehensive strategic plan that identifies opportunities for improvement and establishes actionable next steps for their organizations.
Attendees will leave with practical knowledge and a roadmap they can apply to everyday hospice operations, helping strengthen clinical performance, improve compliance, develop effective teams, and support sustainable organizational growth.
For those seeking additional clinical and regulatory expertise, an optional third-day Hospice Clinical Eligibility Master Class provides focused education on hospice eligibility, clinical documentation, Medicare audits, and appeals.
Earn up to 20.75 nursing continuing education contact hours based on registration, attendance, and completion requirements.
Who Should Attend?
The Hospice Leadership Academy is designed for hospice professionals responsible for clinical operations, compliance, leadership, and organizational performance, including:
- New and experienced hospice managers
- Clinical managers and nursing supervisors
- Hospice administrators and executive directors
- Operations leaders and program directors
- Hospice nurses preparing for management and leadership positions
- Healthcare professionals seeking to strengthen their understanding of hospice operations and regulatory requirements
The optional Day 3 Clinical Eligibility Master Class is also particularly valuable for hospice physicians, nurse practitioners, clinical leaders, and compliance professionals involved in determining hospice eligibility, documenting terminal illness, conducting face-to-face encounters, and responding to Medicare claims reviews.
Choose Your Registration Package
Participants may register for the two-day Core Intensive, attend only the optional Clinical Eligibility Master Class, or select the complete three-day educational experience.
Option 1: Two-Day Core Intensive
January 19–20, 2027 | $1,495 per person
Includes:
- Two full days of interactive leadership and management education
- Electronic access to course presentations, educational materials, and handouts
- Breakfast and lunch each day
- Afternoon refreshments
- Up to 14 nursing continuing education contact hours, subject to completion requirements
Option 2: Clinical Eligibility Master Class Only
January 21, 2027 | $695 per person
Includes:
- One full day of focused hospice clinical eligibility and documentation education
- Electronic access to Day 3 presentations and educational resources
- Breakfast and lunch
- Up to 6.75 nursing continuing education contact hours, subject to completion requirements
Option 3: Complete Three-Day Program
January 19–21, 2027 | $2,190 per person
Includes:
- The complete two-day Hospice Leadership Academy Core Intensive
- The additional one-day Hospice Clinical Eligibility Master Class
- Electronic access to presentations, materials, and resources for all three days
- Breakfast and lunch throughout the program, with afternoon refreshments on Days 1 and 2
- Up to 20.75 nursing continuing education contact hours, subject to completion requirements
Conference Agenda and Learning Objectives
Day 1 | Tuesday, January 19, 2027
Compliance, Quality Management, Clinical Oversight, and Operations
Day 1 focuses on the regulatory, clinical, and operational foundations necessary to lead a successful hospice organization.
Topics include:
- Medicare hospice regulatory requirements and Conditions of Participation
- Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) programs
- Clinical oversight and effective management of care delivery
- Managing clinical processes from admission through after-hours services
- Operational systems that improve consistency, quality, and service excellence
- Survey preparation, regulatory readiness, and risk identification
- Practical approaches to improving clinical and operational performance
- Strategic planning for hospice clinical and operations managers
Practical Application: Participants will begin developing a strategic plan that addresses organizational priorities, operational challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
Day 2 | Wednesday, January 20, 2027
Financial Management, Human Resources, Leadership, and Growth
Day 2 explores the business and leadership responsibilities that directly influence the operational and financial health of a hospice organization.
Topics include:
- Financial fundamentals for hospice managers
- Billing practices, auditing, and revenue cycle awareness
- Accounts payable, accounts receivable, and cost management
- Understanding financial performance and operational sustainability
- Recruiting, interviewing, supervising, and developing employees
- Performance management and disciplinary processes
- Emotionally intelligent leadership and team development
- Business development and effective referral response
- The role of clinical and operational leadership in organizational growth
Practical Application: Participants will continue refining and completing their strategic plans, identifying actionable next steps that can be implemented within their organizations.
Day 3 | Thursday, January 21, 2027
Optional Hospice Clinical Eligibility Master Class
The Clinical Eligibility Master Class provides in-depth education on hospice eligibility requirements, documentation standards, and preparation for Medicare claims reviews.
Topics include:
- Understanding hospice eligibility from the CMS clinical and medical perspective
- Recognizing and documenting clinical decline
- Supporting certification of terminal illness
- Clinical documentation requirements and common areas of risk
- Preparing for Targeted Probe and Educate (TPE) reviews
- Responding to Additional Documentation Requests (ADRs)
- Understanding Medicare contractor reviews, audits, and appeals
- Identifying potential compliance concerns before they become costly problems
- Practical strategies for strengthening documentation and audit readiness
This focused session is designed to help clinical leaders and compliance professionals improve documentation practices, identify risk areas, and respond more effectively to Medicare reviews and appeals.
Meet the Presenters
Learn from experienced hospice professionals who understand the clinical, operational, financial, and regulatory challenges facing today’s hospice leaders.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hospice Support Specialists. Jen brings extensive experience in hospice leadership, Medicare compliance, organizational operations, clinical oversight, and strategic growth.
Dianne Wojciechowski, MSW, LCSW
An experienced hospice executive, licensed clinical social worker, and healthcare consultant with expertise in operational excellence, leadership, regulatory compliance, and organizational performance.
A hospice executive and Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse with extensive experience in quality management, Medicare compliance, clinical operations, survey preparedness, and leadership development.
Lorri Harris, RN, MSN, MHA, CHPN
An accomplished hospice executive, educator, and Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse with decades of experience in healthcare leadership, clinical operations, quality improvement, and organizational development.
Compliance Operations Manager at Hospice Support Specialists, bringing experience in hospice administration, Medicare compliance support, project coordination, and regulatory documentation processes.
Conference Location
Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort
8505 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
Kissimmee, FL 34747
Located in the Orlando area near Walt Disney World Resort, Orange Lake Resort offers a convenient setting for professional education and an opportunity to enjoy Central Florida.
The property features a variety of guest accommodations, dining options, swimming pools, recreational amenities, and resort activities.
Hotel Accommodations
Attendees are responsible for arranging their own lodging.
Rooms and villas may be reserved directly through Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort. Availability, room types, rates, and reservation policies are determined by the resort.
View Orange Lake Resort and Book Accommodations
We encourage attendees to make their lodging arrangements early.
Transportation
Orlando International Airport (MCO) serves the Orlando area and is approximately 27 miles from the resort.
Transportation options include rental cars, taxis, Uber, and Lyft. Travel times will vary depending on traffic and arrival schedules.
Continuing Nursing Education
The program offers up to 20.75 nursing continuing education contact hours depending on the sessions attended and successful completion of the applicable requirements.
- Days 1 and 2: Up to 14 contact hours
- Day 3: Up to 6.75 contact hours
- Full three-day program: Up to 20.75 contact hours
Required Continuing Education Disclosure: Days 1 and 2
The planners and presenters of this activity have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations to disclose.
This Nursing Continuing Professional Development activity was approved by the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association Approver Unit, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
To obtain 14 contact hours, learners must attend full days as evidenced by a sign-in and sign-out sheet, a developed strategic plan, and completed posttests with a score of 85% or greater.
Required Continuing Education Disclosure: Day 3
The planners and presenters of this activity have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations to disclose.
This nursing education activity was approved by the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
To obtain 6.75 contact hours, learners must attend the full day as evidenced by a sign-in and sign-out sheet, a developed strategic plan, and completed posttests with a score of 85% or greater.
Registration and Cancellation Policy
Advance registration is required, and space is limited.
Cancellation and Refunds
- Written cancellation requests received more than 30 days before the event begins are eligible for a full refund.
- Cancellations or transfers to another event within 14 days of the event are subject to a $300 fee.
- Substitution of another attendee from the same organization for the same event is permitted at no additional charge.
Please contact Hospice Support Specialists directly regarding cancellation requests, transfers, or attendee substitutions.
Invest in Stronger Hospice Leadership
Effective hospice leadership requires more than experience. It requires the knowledge, processes, and practical management skills to lead teams, maintain compliance, improve care delivery, and strengthen organizational performance.
The Hospice Leadership Academy brings these essential disciplines together in a focused, practical learning experience led by experienced hospice professionals.
Space is limited. Select your preferred registration package and reserve your place today.