Hospice
Hospice is…
- Specialized care to the terminally ill patient and their family.
- Interdisciplinary Team providing assistance in developing a comprehensive plan of action to meet individual needs and challenges.
- Registered Nurses, LPNs, Nurses Aides, Medical Social Workers, Registered Dietitian, and Volunteers trained in caring for patients and families living with a terminal illness and are involved in hospice patients' care.
- Spiritual counselors available to address issues and offer support.
Symptom Management
Hospice care by our team focuses on symptom management. As symptoms arise, they are treated based on thorough assessments and physician approved protocols.
Protocols are developed for pain, nausea and vomiting, prevention of constipation, anxiety, agitation, shortness of breath, and depression.
Unique approaches to symptom management are utilized such as specially formulated, physician ordered medication combinations that are applied to the skin. The use of needles to administer medication to our hospice patients is very rare.
Our ultimate goal is to manage the pain and/or symptoms experienced to insure the patient's comfort and peace of mind.
End of life care can be comfortable and dignified. Most importantly, it is an opportunity to celebrate the patient and family life stories.
Hospice with Heart!
CMS to Physicians:
"Don't fear to certify terminally ill."
CMS has issued the following statement: "The Medicare program recognizes that terminal illnesses do not have entirely predictable courses, therefore, the (Hospice) benefit is available for extended periods of time beyond six months provided that proper certification is made at the start of each coverage period.
Recognizing that prognosis can be uncertain and may change, Medicare's benefit is not limited in terms of time. Hospice care is available as long as the patient's prognosis meets the law's six-month test. This (six month) test is a general one.
As the governing statute says: "The certification of terminal illness of an individual who elects Hospice shall be based on the physician's or medical director's clinical judgment regarding the normal course of the individual's illness." The statute further notes that, "making medical prognostication of life expectancy is not always exact." Thus, there is no reason for a physician to be concerned about certifying an individual for Hospice care that he or she believes to be terminally ill.
The best question to ask yourself is, 'Would I be surprised by this patient's death within the next year?'"
Do you have questions about hospice services?
Contact us by calling 660-248-2100 or toll free at 866-748-2100.
Contact us by email.
Click on this link to go to Frequently Asked Questions about Hospice