 |
  |
||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
|
||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Discussing Hospice: The Key to Timely Referrals "Through my years as a Hospice doctor, I have learned that dying does not have to be agonizing. When people are relatively comfortable and know that they are not going to be abandoned, they frequently find ways to strengthen bonds with people they love and to create moments of profound meaning in their final passage." -Ira Byock, M.D.
There are many reasons why physicians may delay a discussion of the Hospice option with their patients and families:
While Hospice is usually able to control the physical pain of these late referred patients, it is stunted in its efforts to provide adequate spiritual and emotional support in such a limited amount of time. Some of the compelling reasons to introduce the concept of Hospice Care to your patient include: Medical Care - Pain management is of particular concern to the Hospice community. Hospice stays abreast of the latest in pain management techniques and is adept at teaching the families themselves how to administer medication by a variety of means. Most medical treatments designed to keep people comfortable can now be utilized in the patient's home, but should more extensive care be required, Hospice will assist in locating a facility that will meet the patient and family needs. Emotional and Spiritual Support - The Hospice care team includes spiritual counselors who help patients and families come to terms with the process of dying. They assist the patients in completing some of those important tasks associated with dying, such as saying their final good-byes, mending broken relationships, and giving and seeking forgiveness. Practical Support - The chores of daily living can be overwhelming to the caregiver. Hospice can relieve some of the burden by providing home health aides to assist in the grooming of the patient, and to help with household tasks. The Hospice volunteers perform many functions, including sitting by the bedside, to allow the caregiver an opportunity to take a break from continuous care. Financial Relief - Most patients on Hospice care access the Medicare Hospice Benefit. The Medicare Hospice benefit covers medications and equipment related to the terminal illness, visits by medical and nursing professionals, home health aides, short-term inpatient care, and bereavement support for the family following death. Hospice also accepts Medicaid and private insurance. The financial services specialists at Hospice will assist in negotiating with individual carriers. Bereavement Care - The Bereavement care staff at Hospice will follow the family for a full 13 months after the death of the loved one. In addition to monthly newsletters sent to the family, hospice offers both short term Bereavement Education classes and long-term bereavement support. Delivering difficult news < BACK | NEXT > Guidelines
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
There are convincing reasons to discuss Hospice services with the patient as soon as appropriate. Hospice care is most effective when provided over the period of several months. Nationally, though, half of all patients die within one month of admission, while a full 20% die within the first week of care!