Start Hospice Services
Begin the conversation with your doctor and family. It's never too early to talk to the doctor and family members about the benefits of hospice care. The doctor can help determine if hospice care is appropriate for you and if so write an admission order. A doctor's order is required for a patient to receive hospice care.
Contact our clinical coordinator (Brooke Lankford, RN) or administrator (Adrian Holloway, BSN, RN) at 334-756-8043 if you or your loved one receive a terminal diagnosis, or if you are unsure if you qualify for hospice care, or if you have questions about hospice services.
The clinical staff will gather preliminary information needed for admission. A hospice team member will set up a time and location to meet your loved one and complete the remaining steps to register them for hospice care.
A hospice team member will visit the patient and evaluate the patient's condition and symptoms. Once the initial admission visit is complete there will be a plan of care established which includes:
We recommend that the patient's doctor or other health care professional (such as a nurse or social worker) contact us to refer a patient to hospice. However, if you feel this is an emergency and you can't reach the doctor, please do not hesitate to call us. We're here to help, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We can walk you through the process and make all the necessary arrangements.
Appropriate and Timely Referrals to Hospice
In a recent study as reported by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), only one in ten patients will receive hospice care at the end of life. Another survey conducted by NHPCO found that 70% of adults do not have an explicit understanding of palliative and hospice care. Of those surveyed, 70% stated that they would ascribe to palliative or hospice care if they were aware of the benefits.
When the progression of a disease reaches a terminal state, quality, compassionate, dignified care with the relief of suffering should take precedence. According to the National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses, it's appropriate to refer a patient and family to hospice when one notices a sudden or steady decline in the patient's condition. A steady loss of function and prognosis of 6 months or less to live, or when a patient or family is becoming insistent with their care needs or need of knowledge, referral to hospice care is appropriate. Hospice can provide holistic support and care for the patient and family including: comfort care, spiritual care, advanced care planning and preparation for death, assistance with advanced directives and peace and dignity during an imminent death.
Other indicators for hospice referrals are frequent readmission to the hospital for a chronic illness, the onset of multiple new problems, or an increase in symptoms of discomfort such as pain or spiritual distress. Patients often want to die at home or in a familiar setting surrounded by loved ones, not in a hospital setting receiving treatments that are no longer necessary, beneficial or desired. Referring a patient and family to hospice provides the terminal patient and family with an interdisciplinary team of care providers that will act as advocates for the patient and family.
Begin the conversation with your doctor and family. It's never too early to talk to the doctor and family members about the benefits of hospice care. The doctor can help determine if hospice care is appropriate for you and if so write an admission order. A doctor's order is required for a patient to receive hospice care.
Contact our clinical coordinator (Brooke Lankford, RN) or administrator (Adrian Holloway, BSN, RN) at 334-756-8043 if you or your loved one receive a terminal diagnosis, or if you are unsure if you qualify for hospice care, or if you have questions about hospice services.
The clinical staff will gather preliminary information needed for admission. A hospice team member will set up a time and location to meet your loved one and complete the remaining steps to register them for hospice care.
A hospice team member will visit the patient and evaluate the patient's condition and symptoms. Once the initial admission visit is complete there will be a plan of care established which includes:
- Visit frequency by hospice team members
- Level of care required
- Services that will be provided
We recommend that the patient's doctor or other health care professional (such as a nurse or social worker) contact us to refer a patient to hospice. However, if you feel this is an emergency and you can't reach the doctor, please do not hesitate to call us. We're here to help, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We can walk you through the process and make all the necessary arrangements.
Appropriate and Timely Referrals to Hospice
In a recent study as reported by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), only one in ten patients will receive hospice care at the end of life. Another survey conducted by NHPCO found that 70% of adults do not have an explicit understanding of palliative and hospice care. Of those surveyed, 70% stated that they would ascribe to palliative or hospice care if they were aware of the benefits.
When the progression of a disease reaches a terminal state, quality, compassionate, dignified care with the relief of suffering should take precedence. According to the National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses, it's appropriate to refer a patient and family to hospice when one notices a sudden or steady decline in the patient's condition. A steady loss of function and prognosis of 6 months or less to live, or when a patient or family is becoming insistent with their care needs or need of knowledge, referral to hospice care is appropriate. Hospice can provide holistic support and care for the patient and family including: comfort care, spiritual care, advanced care planning and preparation for death, assistance with advanced directives and peace and dignity during an imminent death.
Other indicators for hospice referrals are frequent readmission to the hospital for a chronic illness, the onset of multiple new problems, or an increase in symptoms of discomfort such as pain or spiritual distress. Patients often want to die at home or in a familiar setting surrounded by loved ones, not in a hospital setting receiving treatments that are no longer necessary, beneficial or desired. Referring a patient and family to hospice provides the terminal patient and family with an interdisciplinary team of care providers that will act as advocates for the patient and family.
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