Who Can Use Hospice: Admission Criteria
To be admitted to the Hospice program, a patient must meet certain established criteria:
- Patient and/or family must understand the nature of Hospice care and be informed of his/her diagnosis and prognosis.
- Attending physician must approve Hospice care for the patient.
- Patient must have a short prognosis.
- Patient must reside within the Hospice service area.
Admission Process
Hospice usually admits patients within 24 hours after receiving the initial referral and physician approval. Most often admissions occur on the same day a referral is made.
The Hospice Admission Staff and other members of the Hospice Team are available to offer assistance and answer questions. Upon admission, a Hospice Nurse will arrange an in-home visit to discuss the patient's individual needs and how Hospice services can help.
New Regulations on Your Side
Recent Federal Regulations, based on a new Federal Statute, has determined that Hospice certification shall be "based upon a physician's judgment regarding the normal course of the individual's illness." The new regulation, developed to help increase the length-of-stay in Hospice, emphasizes that when a physician makes a medical prognostication of the life expectancy is not always exact.
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