Providing Care at Home
Hospice Admission Criteria
Terminally ill individuals and their families, regardless of age, gender, nationality, race, creed, sexual orientation, disability, or ability to pay may be eligible for hospice. “Terminally ill” is defined by a doctor’s prognosis of six months or less to live. In order for a patient to be eligible for hospice, he or she must have chosen to forego aggressive, curative treatment. All patients must understand and accept the hospice philosophy of care.
Sometimes, a patient’s attending physician will discuss the option of hospice with patients and families. Other times, the patient makes the decision or asks his doctor about it. The patient may wish to discuss it with other health care professionals, clergy or family and friends. When the patient decides that hospice is the right choice for him or her, the patient’s physician will write an order for admission to hospice.
Because hospice is not a place, but a philosophy of care, patients can receive services almost anywhere. The hospice team primarily provides services in a person’s private residence. However, many patients are served who reside in rest homes, assisted living homes, and skilled nursing homes. 3HC, Home Health and Hospice Care, Inc., is also proud to offer services in the first hospice inpatient facility in eastern North Carolina and one of only a few in the state, the Kitty Askins Hospice Center.
Most insurance plans include coverage for hospice. Medicare, Medicaid and TriCare offer a comprehensive hospice benefit. Under these plans, the patient has 100% coverage with only a five percent (5%) or $5 copayment for medication and respite care. However, 3HC does not choose to charge the patient for these copays. Therefore, the patient and family receive these comprehensive services with no deductible and no copayment. Other insurance plans vary, and hospice will help in investigating coverage. Many donations are made to 3HC hospice, so that inasmuch as possible, services can be provided regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.
Palliative Care
Hospice defines palliative care as comfort care or an intensive program of care with the relief of pain and suffering as the treatment goal. When cure is no longer possible, a peaceful and comfortable life and death is the treatment objective.
Modern health care recognizes palliative care as a valid treatment goal. However, many health care professionals, including physicians, have not been trained to provide palliative care. The expertise of hospice clinicians is in palliative care. Hospice believes that death is a normal part of the life cycle. Our goal in hospice care is to manage pain, ease suffering (physical, emotional, social and spiritual) and support the patient and family in living fully, and as completely as possible, in the final months.
