Too few hospice or home health providers start with the really critical elements of a palliative care program:  why are you creating a program; and who do you plan to serve.

From those two questions will flow the model and funding.  But a second problem many prospective palliative care providers face, is that they make their planning decisions in a vacuum; without input from potential strategic partners.  This article is intended to help organizations build a firm foundation early in the development of a palliative care program.