What is hospice?
Hospice offers palliative care for terminally ill patients who seek comfort rather than cure. Hospice offers a team of trained individuals to support the patient and their family with their physical, emotional and spiritual needs.top of the page
What is Palliative Care?
The goal of palliative care is to ensure that the patient is as pain and symptom-free as possible. The patient's medical needs are cared for by professional nursing personnel and certified nursing assistants under the direction of the patient's personal physician. Social and psychological needs are attended to by social work professionals, while volunteers supplement these activities with the patient's families. Spiritual needs are addressed when requested by the patients and are dealt with through the minister of choice, or by the Hospice Chaplain. Working as a team, these professionals, along with the patient's primary caregiver, work to assure that the patient receives the proper care and achieves the best possible quality of life.top of the page
Who can receive hospice?
Any person facing the advancing stages of any terminal illness is eligible for palliative care. Hospice care is appropriate when the physician thinks that the patient will lives six months or less, aggressive treatments are no longer appropriate, and the patient, family and physician agree that the focus should be placed on pain management and symptom control, not cure.top of the page
Where is hospice care provided?
Hospice is not a place, it is a philosophy of care. Most hospice patients receive care in their home or the home of their caregiver. Hospice care can also be provided in long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities, hospitals or nursing homes. Some hospices have residential units designed to provide a homelike setting where hospice is provided.top of the page
When is a patient ready for hospice care?
Hospice is appropriate when treatments are no longer effective and the patient and family agree to the service. Understandably, many patients and family members are uncomfortable with the idea of stopping treatment. Hospice staff members are sensitive to these concerns and are available to respond to any fears or concerns the patient and their family may have. Prior to admission, a plan of care is developed based upon the patient's wishes. Hospice Care Team, Inc.'s objective is to provide relief so that the patient and family can spend their remaining days with comfort and dignity.top of the page
Who pays for hospice?
Hospice Care Team is a Medicare and Medicaid certified Hospice. Most private insurers and HMO's cover all costs of hospice care. At Hospice Care Team, Inc., no patient is ever denied services based on his or her ability to pay. As a nonprofit organization, Hospice Care Team, Inc. solicits funds from the community, which are used to provide services for the unfunded patient.top of the page
What if the patient gets better or changes their mind?
If the patient's condition improves or stabilizes, they may be discharged from hospice and return to aggressive treatment or resume daily life. If the patient should later need hospice care, Medicare and most insurance coverage allow the patient to resume hospice services.top of the page
Who can refer a patient to a hospice program?
Anyone may refer a patient to a hospice program. The patient may refer him/herself or he/she may be referred by a friend, caregiver, relative, social worker, nurse, hospital, nursing home or physician. Our staff is available to visit with the patient and family prior to admission for assessment and explanation of the services provided. To make a referral, call (800) 545-8735 and ask for the admissions coordinator. The following patient information will be requested:- Patient's name
- Patient's phone number
- Patient's physician's name
After a patient has been referred, the Admissions Staff will contact the patient's private physician to obtain consent to talk to the patient about Hospice Care Team, Inc. Information necessary to complete the referral will also be obtained.
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