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Comfort Care
MultiCare Hospice and Palliative Care Services:
Hope and Help for End-of-Life Care
While the primary goal of healthcare is to cure disease, there are times when a cure is no longer possible. When the focus of care shifts from cure to comfort, Hospice offers the expert medical care and human compassion needed by most patients and their families. As pain is relieved and symptoms managed, a patient is better able to participate in daily life at home with family and friends.About Hospice care
The heart of Hospice is the interdisciplinary team: a group of professionals who provide comfort and care to those for whom cure is no longer possible. Comprised of the patient’s physician, a medical director, registered nurses, clinical social workers, non-denominational chaplains, home health aides, and specially trained community volunteers, the Hospice team works together with patients and families to make the remaining months and weeks of life meaningful and as pain-free as possible.
Each patient and family has different expectations of Hospice, so Hospice services may be tailored to meet individual needs.
Some of the services offered include:
- Informational visits and timely evaluations and admissions
- Pain relief
- Symptom management
- 24-hour, seven-day-a-week availability of a Hospice RN
- Emotional and spiritual support
- Personal care
- Respite care
- Massage therapy
- Grief support for 13 months for surviving family members and significant others
Who qualifies for Hospice care?
A person diagnosed by a licensed physician as having advanced disease with a life- limited expectancy qualifies for Hospice care. Referrals to a MultiCare Hospice may come from anyone, but the patient’s consent and attending physician’s authorization are required for admission. People are accepted into the MultiCare Hospice Program without regard to race, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation or disability.
Paying for Hospice care
MultiCare Hospice is reimbursed by Medicare, Medicaid (if the primary insurance), some private insurance plans, VA benefits and uncompensated funds provided by the MultiCare Health Foundation.
Common misconceptions about Hospice care
Hospice services are only available in the home setting.
Hospice services are available wherever the patient lives, whether at home, in an assisted-living setting, or in a nursing home where the agency has a contractual agreement.
Hospice patients have to die at home.
While most Hospice patients choose to die at home, the Hospice team will assist and support families in planning for alternative choices.
Hospice patients cannot be hospitalized.
While part of the role of Hospice is to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, Hospice patients may be admitted to a hospital with pre-authorization from the Hospice team for symptom-management issues.
Hospice provides around-the-clock nursing care in the home.
Hospice provides intermittent nursing visits and 24-hour telephone access to nursing staff for information, support and visits as needed. The intensity and frequency of nursing care can be increased, depending on the medical needs of the patient.
Hospice patients can no longer receive treatment
Each patient situation is considered and evaluated by the Hospice team. Hospice may accept patients who are receiving, or may receive, palliative treatment – treatment intended for comfort.
Primary physicians are no longer involved in care of patients they refer to Hospice.
Hospice supplements rather than replaces the primary care physician, encouraging the physician to be part of the interdisciplinary team to support patient needs.
Hospice patients must have a Do Not Resuscitate order
Hospice accepts patients for routine home care who have not yet agreed to a DNR status, as long as their goals are for palliative care.
Hospice only sees patients with a terminal cancer diagnosis
Hospice care is appropriate for many end- stage terminal diagnoses, including cancer, AIDS, ALS, heart disease, respiratory and lung disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
The patient must be close to death in order to be admitted to Hospice
Patients with a prognosis of six months or less, assuming the natural course of their disease, are appropriate for Hospice. Hospice care is most beneficial to the patient and family when there is sufficient time to fully assess needs and strengths and to establish a trusting relationship.
Beginning the Hospice program
For more information, or to begin the Hospice program, contact MultiCare Hospice and Palliative Care Services at 253-459-8370 or 1-800-527-2069.