Referring A Patient

Any individual can refer a patient to Family Hospice by calling 618-277-1800. The patient’s attending physician will be contacted for verification that the patient meets hospice admission criteria and other medical information.

Hospice admissions are coordinated by the Patient Care Coordinator and the Social Service Director. A nurse and/or a social worker will meet with the patient and their family to provide information, answer questions and assist with admission into the hospice program.

Referral Process

  1. Once We receive a referral: (usually within the first hour after receiving a referral)

We phone the patient/family to schedule an appointment to discuss their goals of care,

We phone the doctors office to get permission to make a visit to evaluate the patient,

We confirm with the referral source the next steps in identifying the needs and goals of the patient and family.

  1. If the patient qualifies for Hospice and wants to enroll in hospice, we begin the admission process by confirming with the patient’s physician, ordering equipment and completing a comprehensive assessment of the patient’s condition by the Registered Nurse.
  2. The Hospice Interdisciplinary team discusses the patient’s needs and begins to formulate the initial plan of care and schedule of visits.

Admission Criteria

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), assisted by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization has established guidelines in determining criteria for admission into Hospice. The 3 basic criteria are listed below, but there are additional guidelines for disease of the heart, lung, liver, kidney and other chronic neuromuscular disorders that have reached their final stage.

Patients who show a general decline in their clinical status and who are not responding to therapeutic interventions may be eligible for hospice care.

Eligibility Criteria:

  1. The patient has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and their health cannot be restored.
  2. With the information available, the patient’s physician and the hospice medical director feel the patient’s prognosis is 6 months or less if the disease runs its normal course.
  3. The patient is not eligible for aggressive interventions that may prolong their life or the patient or patient’s representative choose not to pursue aggressive treatment.

Hospice neither hastens nor postpones death, but provides services intended to promote comfort and improving the quality of their life. Patients and their families are the unit of care and are supported through the length of the hospice stay. Patients are re-assessed on an ongoing basis to determine eligibility for hospice services.

 

Physicians must agree and sign a statement that reads….”the patient is suffering from a terminal illness with a life expectancy of 6 months or less if the disease runs its normal course.”

TREE OF MEMORIES

In supporting our Tree of Memories program through the holiday season, we make ornaments available at our kiosk at St. Clair Square from November 30 through December 22.

 

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VOLUNTEERS

We truly value our volunteers and the passion they bring to our family. Our 150 volunteers are dedicated to furthering the mission of hospice and supporting your family during this trying time.

 

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DONATIONS

We appreciate the love and support shown by our donors. Gifts are used to support our programs and provide assistance to patients struggling with the cost of care.

 

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OUR LOCATION

map5110 W. Main St.
Belleville, IL
62226-4729

P: 618-277-1800
F: 618-277-1074
info@familyhospice.org

 

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