Hospice Services
Hospice Care is a benefit of Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans. It provides comprehensive health care to the hospice patient and family that includes several levels of care, medical equipment and supplies, support for the patient and family from the Medical Social Worker, Chaplain, Bereavement, and Volunteer.
Home Hospice care
ROUTINE HOME HOSPICE
- Routine Home Hospice is provided in the patient's home. Medicare recognizes anywhere the patient lives as the patient's "home".
- A Registered Nurse is the "Case Manager" the nurse manages the "team".
- The Team consists of a Medical Director Dr. Sandra Gomez, and Dr. Mansoora Sheikh, Registered Nurse, Hospice Aide, Social Worker, Chaplain, and Volunteer.
- The Admission nurse will evaluate the patient for appropriateness, identify the hospice diagnosis, establish a care plan, identify the medications related to the hospice diagnosis, order DME and medical supplies needed by the patient and caregiver.
- As a standard of care the Nursing visits will start with two visits per week , the Hospice Aide will visit three times a week. The nurse and aide will adjust the schedule of visits as needed by the patient and the family.
- The Medical Social Worker will evaluate the patient and family for psychosocial needs, establish a care plan and establish a visit schedule.
- The Chaplain will evaluate the patient and family for spiritual needs, establish a spiritual care plan, and will also evaluate the family for bereavement needs.
Respite Hospice care
RESPITE CARE
- The patient and family may need Respite Care. This level of care is available to the patient and family once every certification period. Medicare will allow for five days of respite care away from the patient's home, usually in a Nursing facility chosen by the family.
- In Respite Care the patient is followed by the Medical Director, Nurse Case manager, Hospice Aide, Social Worker and Chaplain.
- Transportation to and from the Nursing facility is provided by the hospice.
Continuous Hospice care
CONTINUOUS CARE
- The patient and family may need Continuous Care. This level of care is available to the patient and family as needed for symptom management. The nurse Case manager will identify symptoms that need to be controlled that require constant observation by a nurse. Continuous Care must be a minimum of 8 hours of nursing care at the patient's bedside but may require several 24 hour days before the symptoms are under control.
Inpatient Hospice care
INPATIENT CARE
- The patient may require very intense palliative care provided in a hospital like setting. This care is identified by the Medical Director and implemented by the staff in the facility.
- In Inpatient Care the patient is attended to by an inpatient physician and staff but continues to be followed by the hospice Medical Director, Nurse Case manager, Social Worker and Chaplain.