Healthcare Professionals
Why do providers choose St. Anthony’s Hospice and Palliative Care?
Giving news of a terminal diagnosis, or discussing goals of care when a disease nears the end stage, are some of the most difficult conversations a provider will ever have with a patient. Because of this, many patients are not referred to palliative care or hospice when they first become eligible, and are not afforded the opportunity to reap the maximum benefits these services provide.
The delay in having these discussions can prevent patients from receiving the benefits of the expert pain and symptom management hospice professionals can provide. Hospice care visits, medications, medical equipment, and supplies related to the patient’s terminal diagnosis are all provided at no cost to the patient or family, as they are covered under the Medicare hospice benefit. Earlier admission to hospice can help prevent hospitalizations and help keep patients home, where they receive the support of the hospice team with 24/7 availability.
Providers trust the comfort, symptom management, and physical, emotional, and spiritual care and support that our team of end-of-life care experts provides. They refer to St. Anthony’s Hospice to ensure their patients can be as comfortable as possible.
Is it time to refer your patient to St. Anthony’s Hospice and Palliative Care?
Have you heard your patient or his caregivers say they are tired of repeated ER visits and/or hospitalizations? With hospice care, instead of rushing to the hospital at 2 a.m., your patient/his caregivers could call a hospice nurse to address their symptoms in their home, assisted living facility, or nursing home facility. Would that improve quality of life for your patient and their caregivers?
Hospice care is available to patients who have a prognosis of 6 months or less, should their disease run its natural course. Each patient’s situation is unique, but consider the following questions to determine if a referral to St. Anthony’s Hospice/Palliative Care could help your patient have a better quality of life…
- Has your patient had frequent ER visits and/or hospitalizations in the last year?
- Is your patient experiencing more falls?
- Has there been a significant decline in their ability to perform activities of daily living including getting dressed, walking, eating meals or using the bathroom?
- Has there been a change in your patient’s cognitive abilities?
- Is your patient experiencing progressive weight loss, infections, skin tears or other signs of deteriorating health?
If you answered yes to even one of these questions, your patient could likely benefit from the support of St. Anthony’s Hospice and Palliative Care. St. Anthony’s is available around the clock, 365 days a year to admit patients, provide care and answer questions. We work closely with referring providers to walk the patient and their caregivers through the referral/admission process and keep the attending provider informed on the patient’s condition and symptom control needs.
Making a referral to St. Anthony’s Hospice or Palliative Care
Our referral process is designed to ensure patients can begin receiving the care they need as quickly as possible. We make every effort to make the transition to hospice or palliative care a seamless process for patients and their families. We know that every minute matters near the end of life.
Physicians can make a hospice referral by clicking this link or by calling the 270-826-2326.
Once we receive a referral, our team will contact the patient/family and arrange to meet with the patient/family within 24 hours to explain our services and determine if the patient meets the criteria for hospice or palliative care. Our admissions team will evaluate the patient’s condition and provide an overview of our programs and services. If the patient is ready to begin hospice or palliative care, consent forms and admission paperwork can be completed at this time and services can begin the same day.
