Getting Help with Hospice.

Sometimes it's hard to start something new when you don't know the steps to take. Here is a Step-by-Step Process to Sign on to Hospice Services.

1. Understand and Accept Hospice Care
a. Hospice care is focused on comfort and quality of life for patients with a terminal illness, rather than curative treatment.

2. Recognize the Need and Determine Eligibility
a. The patient, family, or healthcare provider identifies that curative treatment is no longer effective or desired.
b. Eligibility typically requires a physician’s diagnosis of a terminal illness with a prognosis of six months or less if the disease follows its normal course.

3. Obtain a Referral
a. A referral can be made by the treating physician, hospital staff, the patient, family, or even a friend.
b. The hospice provider will often coordinate with the referring party to gather necessary medical information.

4. Initial Consultation and Assessment
a. The hospice team (typically a nurse and/or physician) will visit the patient to confirm eligibility and discuss the patient’s medical condition, care goals, and support system.
b. This includes reviewing medical records and discussing the patient’s wishes and preferences for care.

5. Physician Certification and Collaboration
a. The hospice medical director, in consultation with the attending physician (if any), reviews the diagnosis and supporting clinical information to confirm eligibility.
b. The physician must certify that the patient has a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness runs its usual course.

6. Election of Hospice Benefit
a. The patient (or representative) signs an election statement to formally choose hospice care. This document indicates the decision to forgo curative treatments in favor of comfort care.
b. The effective date of hospice care can be the same day as signing or a later date, based on the patient’s needs.

7. Enrollment and Admission
a. The hospice provider completes the necessary enrollment paperwork, which may include verifying insurance or Medicare/Medicaid eligibility.

8. Development of a Personalized Care Plan
a. After enrollment, the hospice interdisciplinary team (physician, nurse, social worker, chaplain, aides, case worker, and volunteers) develops a care plan tailored to the patient’s physical, emotional, spiritual, and social needs.
The plan is created in partnership with the patient, family, and healthcare providers.

9. Begin Hospice Services
a. Hospice care services begin.

10. Ongoing Communication and Support
a. The hospice team maintains regular communication to adjust the care plan as needed and provide ongoing support.