Hospice Referral

Having a loved one referred to hospice brings with it a flood of emotions as well as many questions. What is hospice care? Is this the end? What do we do now? Does this mean my loved one must be moved? What services does hospice provide?

We understand. Many of us at Bethany have experienced these emotions firsthand. That’s why we want to provide you with answers to all of your questions and as much support as possible.

The Referral Process

Physician’s Order

Hospice services are initiated by a physician’s order. You may ask your doctor for an order for a hospice evaluation. If you wish, we can make that request for you.

Evaluation

Next, a member of the Bethany team will visit the individual and complete a hospice evaluation. This includes reviewing current medications and medical history and discussing the goals of care.

Informed Consent

If the individual is determined to be medically appropriate for hospice services, we will contact you to schedule a meeting to discuss hospice in detail. We offer a flexible schedule to accommodate the needs of family, including evening and weekend appointments.

Nursing Assessment and Admission

Next, a Registered Nurse will visit the patient and complete a comprehensive nursing assessment. The nursing assessment is used to develop an initial plan of care and helps us determine how often we need to visit the patient in the first few weeks. The attending physician is then notified that the hospice admission is complete, and they provide us with appropriate orders for care.

First Week

Shortly after your hospice admission, you will receive any newly prescribed medications as well as the durable medical equipment and disposable supplies that hospice provides. You will also have an opportunity to meet the other members of the hospice care team. This includes our hospice aides, social workers, and chaplains. Our on-call team is poised to help with any evening or weekend needs.

Hospice Plan of Care

The hospice team comes together to develop a plan of care to best meet the needs of our new patient and family. We review this plan regularly and update it as changes occur. Your input is valuable. Feel free to call us at any time whether you have a question, a medical issue, or would just like a friendly ear to lend you some support. We are members of your team, and we value your contributions.