7 Hospice Basics: Admission and Ongoing Care Using established criteria, hospice nurses assess patients for eligibility for hospice services and help patients and families establish goals of care. If hospice care is deemed appropriate, the patient is admitted to hospice services and the appropriate level of care determined through collaboration of the interdisciplinary team with the patient and family. The nurse’s assessment and knowledge of hospice levels of care are integral to this process. After reading this chapter, you will be able to: ■ Conduct a hospice admission ■ Orient the patient and family to hospice services ■ Assess ongoing eligibility for hospice care THE HOSPICE ADMISSION Once it is determined that the patient is eligible for hospice services, the admission can take place. On admission, the nurse should review: ■ Patient and family goals ■ Goals of hospice care ■ Services provided by hospice ■ Availability of inpatient services ■ Fees or co-pays (if not already reviewed by the social worker) ■ Process of discharge and/or revocation Fast Facts in a Nutshell The hospice admission is a pivotal experience for the patient and family and sets the tone for future hospice care experiences (Moon, 2016). The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO, 2009) has devised a Hospice Admission Care Map (see Figure 7.1) that outlines the following steps of the hospice admission: ■ Referral to hospice ■ Verification of eligibility requirements ■ Certification of terminal illness by attending physician and hospice medical director ■ Election of hospice care by patient ■ Admission to hospice ORIENTING FAMILIES TO HOSPICE SERVICES
Initial and comprehensive assessment
Interdisciplinary care planning and coordination of services
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