Choosing a Hospice Provider

Questions to consider in choosing a Hospice provider

Is the provider Medicare certified or covered by your personal insurance plan?
Do they provide the services you need?
Are the nurses Hospice certified?
Do they have an in-patient unit
Do they provide nurse directed 24 hour care, especially after hours?
Do they provide care in multiple settings-Home, Assisted Living, and Skilled Nursing Facilities?
How often do the nurses visit the patient and family?
Do they have Hospice affiliated physicians who visit the patient, and if so, how often?
Do they provide Crisis care, and if so, for how long, and for what qualifying criteria?
Do they follow accepted guidelines for pain and symptom management?
Do they have expertise in aggressive management for the high acuity patient, and offer treatment for other medical problems, exclusive of the patient’s primary qualifying diagnosis?
Do they provide grief and bereavement counseling, especially if the relatives are not located in the area?
Do they provide and deliver medications? If so, what is the turn-around time?
Do they provide and deliver durable medical equipment and supplies? If so, what is the turn-around time?
Is the Hospice a “For-Profit” or “Not-For-Profit” provider?

Vist the Jewish Pavilion website for information pertaining to the aged of all faiths.
http://www.jewishpavilion.org/
Nancy Ludin, Executive Director

Friday, November 5, 2010