Myths

“The only way I can get a hospice referral is if my doctor makes it.”

“My doctor will outright tell me when I need hospice care.”

FALSE! St. Anthony’s encourages all patients to be their own health advocate. This means if you have a physician suggesting more chemotherapy, more dialysis, more of whatever aggressive curative treatment you have been doing and you don’t want to continue, speak up!

Your physician is there to explain the care options but it is ultimately the patient’s decision as to what care they want. The patient doesn’t have to wait for their physician to bring up hospice care, the patient can bring it up to their physician! The physician must, however, certify that the patient has a terminal illness that if it ran it’s normal course without any symptom management or curative options, the life expectancy is 6 months or less.

And you always have the option to request palliative care when receiving curative treatments! Palliative care is designed to provide symptom management and act as an extra set of eyes and ears in the home without taking the place of a patient’s physician. Check out our pages on the difference in hospice and palliative care and more information on palliative care.

If you think St. Anthony’s Hospice Care would benefit you or a loved one, please call us anytime (270) 826-2326 or make an online referral.

“Hospice hastens death” or “Hospice rushes death”.

This myth could not be farther from the truth! While the main purpose of hospice care is neither to prolong life nor hasten death, it does greatly improve quality of life. Studies have shown that hospice care can increase patients’ survival for certain diagnoses, when began early enough in the disease process. This means that when the patient receives optimal symptom management early enough to improve quality of life, this can also increase their quantity of life. Some studies that prove this can be found here and here.

Hospice care encompasses palliative care, which the CMS webpage defines as “patient and family-centered care that optimizes quality of life by anticipating, preventing, and treating suffering. Palliative care throughout the continuum of illness involves addressing, physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual needs and to facilitate patient autonomy, access to information, and choice.” Traditional healthcare treats the illness, rather than the patient. When traditional healthcare can no longer treat an illness and the provider and/or patient decide nothing more can be done, it is time to begin treating the person and improving his/her quality of life.

Having your physical, psychological, social, emotional, and spiritual care properly managed allows the patient to live their best life for however long he/she has. Oh, and did you know not every hospice patient passes away?? Some patients improve so much they actually don’t qualify for hospice care anymore and get discharged. And for cancer patients, you can even refer to hospice care to manage the side effects of chemotherapy, once completed. Having all types of pain properly managed can help the patient regain strength in order to discharge from hospice care and seek more aggressive treatments.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a serious illness and would like symptom management, please call St. Anthony’s Hospice or Palliative Care at (270) 826-2326 or make an online referral. 

Before hospice care can begin, a patient must meet the eligibility requirements set forth by the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). There is no specific number of symptoms for admission into hospice care. However, a patient must have a life-limiting illness that should the disease run its normal course, they have a life-expectancy of 6 months or less. Some additional general eligibility requirements for hospice care can be found on our website here. The goal of hospice care is to increase quality of life by controlling pain and symptoms associated with their disease, for the remainder of their life. Hospice does not prolong life nor does it hasten death.

With the increased symptom management and care hospice provides, some patients do improve! Early referrals to hospice care are so important for the patient to experience all benefits it has to offer. We wrote a blog post a few months ago that explores early hospice referrals; check it out here.

Sometimes, patients improve so much that they can no longer receive hospice care. In these cases, the patient is discharged and referred to St. Anthony’s Palliative Care.

Many people view hospice care as a death sentence. However, many people get better once their symptoms are properly managed!

What happens when a patient is discharged from St. Anthony’s Hospice? 

• It is determined the patient has an extended prognosis of longer than 6 months to live.
• It is the patient’s wish to stop hospice services.
• The patient moves out of the hospice service area.
• The patient is discharged for cause. In cases like this, the hospice medical director and care team determines the patient or caregiver is compromising the ability of the hospice to effectively provide care with disruptive, abusive, or obstructive behavior.

We make every effort to resolve issues before considering a discharge. However, if determined a discharge is needed, our Medical Director or the patient’s following physician will be consulted prior to discharging.

St. Anthony’s Hospice works with caregivers in advance of a discharge. We want our patients to have all the support and supplies needed for a smooth transition out of hospice care.

Can I return to St. Anthony’s Hospice care if I’m discharged?

If you are discharged from hospice care you can return to St. Anthony’s care once you meet the eligibility requirements again.

For more information or to refer yourself or a loved one to Hospice or Palliative Care, call us at (270) 826-2326 or make an online referral here.

One of the most common myths we hear is “hospice care takes away all your medicines!” This couldn’t be farther from the truth! When a patient is enrolled in hospice care, a review of their medications is one of the first things we do. This review ensures the patient is receiving the best combination of medications to control symptoms and help the patient reach his/her goals.

What does it mean to be overprescribed?
When a patient reaches that “terminal” stage of their serious illness, they have been receiving treatment for many components of their serious illness for a while.  In traditional medicine, with each new symptom or diagnosis or physician, a variety of new prescriptions are given. At times, this occurs without the physician being aware of medications that are already being taken, which can lead to the patient taking multiple medications that do the same thing or a combination being prescribed that have adverse reactions. Meaning the patient can be taking the same medication in different dosages or one medication is designed to help control swelling while another causes it!

This article from American Family Physician states “Adverse drug events occur in 15% or more of older patients presenting to [doctor] offices, hospitals, and extended care facilities.” This is roughly 1 in every 6 patients, which is 4x more than younger patients! Also,  1 in 6 older patients experiences an adverse drug event while in the hospital. 

St. Anthony’s Hospice performs a thorough medication review of all patients prescription and non-prescription medications. We do this by taking stock of all prescriptions the patient is taking and adjust them, add prescriptions, and subtract prescriptions as needed.

Goals of Care
Anytime a patient’s goals of care change, a medication review should be done. When a seriously ill patient shifts their goals to comfort care rather than curative care, it is natural that some medications are not longer applicable to the patient. For example, oral chemotherapy drugs are no longer beneficial to a hospice patient or some long-term cholesterol medications may no longer be necessary for quality of life. But other medications such as those that help stabilize blood sugar may continue. The patient’s interdisciplinary team works together with the St. Anthony’s Hospice medical directors and the patient’s primary care physician to design a care plan tailored to that patient’s specific needs.

Most importantly, the top goals of hospice care are quality of life and controlling pain and symptoms associated with the patient’s serious illness. There will be new medications prescribed to help meet the goals of hospice care. Prescription medications should be expected to change as the patient’s condition changes. For example, if a patient can no longer swallow, prescriptions will change from a pill to a liquid or may be discontinued altogether (if the medication no longer helps the patient achieve his/her goals).

The patient’s interdisciplinary team educates the family and caregiver not only on the disease process, but the medications prescribed to the patient and how to administer them. Medications related to the patient’s hospice diagnosis, durable medical equipment, and medical supplies are covered under the hospice Medicare benefit. This does not include over the counter medications such as Tylenol, etc.  If you have any questions about whether or not a prescription medication is covered under the patient’s hospice benefit, call us at (270) 826-2326 and we can help you.

If you or a loved one is in need of hospice or palliative care, please call us at (270) 826-2326 or make a referral here. 

Choosing hospice care can be a difficult decision, especially with all the misconceptions surrounding the service. As a result, many who need quality pain and symptom control, as well as social and emotional care, do not take advantage of hospice care. St. Anthony’s Hospice wants you to have the facts so you can make the best decision for you and your loved one. There are so many myths that surround hospice care. We have listed a few as well as the facts that dispel these.

Myth: Families/patients must wait for their physician to suggest hospice care.
Fact: St. Anthony’s Hospice encourages all people to be advocates and explore all their healthcare choices. Anyone can call our office to refer a patient at (270) 826- 2326. We have a referral specialist standing by to answer all your questions and contact your physician for the referral orders, if appropriate.

Myth: Hospice should be called only in the last moments of life.
Fact: The earlier hospice is used, the more benefits patients and families get from the program! Pain and symptom management is more effective when delivered earlier in the disease process. Our number one complaint is that families wish they called St. Anthony’s sooner!

Myth: Hospice is only for the dying patient.
Fact: St. Anthony’s Hospice focuses on the grieving family as much as the patient. We have a team of professionals, including chaplains and social workers, who help with the bereavement process and a variety of other services that benefit the patient’s loved ones before and after their passing.

Myth: My doctor will no longer be my doctor if I become a hospice patient.
Fact: If he/she is willing, your doctor will remain your attending and will become part of the St. Anthony’s Hospice team in caring for you. Our St. Anthony’s staff physicians can also provide care if your doctor is unable to do so.

Myth: Hospice is only for cancer patients.
Fact: Any patient with an end-stage diagnosis can benefit from hospice. These examples include, but are not limited to: HIV/AIDS, end-stage kidney disease, congestive heart failure (CHF), Alzheimer’s/Dementia, cirrhosis, stroke/CVA, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), septicemia (sepsis), and others.

Myth: Hospice is expensive.
Fact: Hospice is a benefit under Medicare part A; some private insurances and Medicaid will also cover services. In addition, durable medical equipment, disposable medical equipment, and prescriptions related to the life-limiting condition are covered under these benefits, easing the financial burden on the patients and their families. No person is turned away from St. Anthony’s Hospice due to inability to pay.

Myth: Hospice care is only provided in the patient’s house.
Fact: While many patients who live alone, or with family, receive care in their homes, hospice services are available wherever the patient calls “home.” This means services can be provided in the patient’s house, a nursing home, or assisted living facility. In addition, we also provide services at the Lucy Smith King Care Center, our hospice hospital.

Myth: Hospice is about dying.
Fact: Hospice is about quality of life! When pain and symptoms are managed properly, patients make the most of the time they have left. They are able to spend time with friends, family, and pets in the comfort of their own home while being in control of the care they are receiving. Choosing hospice does not mean the patient is giving up hope or that death is coming soon. Patients often live longer under hospice care since pain and symptoms are under control.

Myth: All hospices are the same.
Fact: While the federal regulations governing hospice programs require the same standard services, that does not mean they are all the same. St. Anthony’s Hospice has been serving the residents of Henderson, Union, and Webster counties since 1982. In 2016, we began our Palliative Care program for those who seek pain and symptom control, while still seeking curative treatments.

Myth: Hospice means I’m going to die soon.
Fact: Many studies have shown the exact opposite! With your symptoms under expert management, studies have shown you can live longer with hospice care (if you are enrolled early enough). Hospice does not hasten death nor does it prolong life. These studies have proven hospice effective in improving quality of life which can sometimes improve quantity of life, compared to those with the same illness but not receiving hospice care.

Myth: Once enrolled in hospice, you cannot get out except when you die.
Fact: You can decide to leave hospice care at any time to pursue aggressive treatments. On the other hand, we have patients who get better with the symptom management and “graduate” from hospice! If you decide to re-enroll in hospice care and still qualify, you can always come back.

Myth: Hospice takes away all medications.
Fact: Hospice care is all about managing symptoms, which we do with medications. This does not mean that hospice care over-medicates patients or removes all medicines. In some cases, we do de-prescribe to reduce the amount of medication the patient will be taking. This is used to reduce medicines with heavy side effects or ones that are simply not benefitting the patient or increasing their quality of life.

If you or a loved one is in need of hospice or palliative care, please call us at (270) 826-2326 or make a referral here.

“Hospice is only for cancer patients.”

This couldn’t be farther from the truth! Any patient with a terminal diagnosis will benefit from hospice services. These include but are not limited to- HIV/AIDS, end-stage kidney disease, congestive heart failure (CHF), Alzheimer’s Disease, cirrhosis, stroke/CVA, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), septicemia (sepsis), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gherig’s Disease), multple sclerosis (MS), various cancers, and many others. Hospice care manages symptoms associated with the terminal diagnosis to keep the patient comfortable in their last moments of life.