Determining the correct hospice care you or even a cherished one requires at the end-of-life might seem such as a daunting task to battle during an already difficult time. In a current blog describing hospice and palliative care, I’ve received many responses from readers who wish to learn how to pick a hospice program that’s right for them. Several readers have shared their experiences with me on hospice care; some great, and others bad. I have compiled some tips from industry experts to help take the guesswork out of selecting a hospice hospice care provider.

One of the first items to remember when beginning your seek out hospice care is to understand hospices are first and foremost a small business, and while a well-intended business, they want yours. That said, it`s very important to ask questions and get answers before committing to anything. Differences between hospices are often hard to ascertain as they tend to supply similar services. While memberships in state hospice organizations and The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) may appear impressive, they are open to any hospice. What does matter is that the hospice is Medicare certified, as Medicare offers the baseline requirements for quality care.

To qualify for Medicare certification, hospices must offer 16 separate core and auxiliary services. Core services include bereavement counseling, nutritional services and doctor services. Continuous home care, physical therapy, medication administration and household services are types of auxiliary services. Also important is whether a hospice need your insurance. The Hospice Blog offers some great advice and tips that will assist streamline the search process for you. First, find out who owns the hospice agency you’re considering, and what the owner`s background is. Could be the hospice service nonprofit, for profit or government operated? The kind of ownership may influence the services a hospice patient receives. And speak to the administrator when contacting a hospice.

Let’s face it, the administrator has got the authority to state yes or no to anything the hospice office assistant or hospice employer has promised you. If you have found a hospice that meets your preferences, ensure it is your home office, rather than a branch. Generally, the nurse who resides at the house office has usage of the individual in charge. Branch offices usually do not have employees who make financial or business decisions. Finally, before choosing a hospice, find out where the on-call nurse lives. If the nurse lives far far from the patient requiring hospice care, the response time will need longer.