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Hospice
of McDowell County, Inc.
Serving Our Neighbors Since 1994
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Frequently Asked Questions |
| Questions are sometimes obviously
answered, while at other times they are not. Remember to always ask if
you are unsure.
Listed below are ten of the least frequently asked questions and their
answers. |
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1 |
How long has hospice been around?
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In the United States, hospice began providing care for terminally
ill persons and their families in the mid 1970's. According to the
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) facts and
figures that were updated in February 2004, it is estimated that 3,200
hospice programs were in operation in 2002. Hospice of McDowell County
has been providing services since 1994. Review the article
on How the Hospice Concept Evolved?
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2 |
How is a referral made to Hospice of McDowell County? |
The physician, patient, or with permission of the patient, a family member
or a friend may call our office at (828)652-1318 to request
services. The hospice RN will contact the attending physician regarding
the patient's eligibility for hospice care. |
3 |
Who is eligibility for Hospice Care? |
Admission
standards for Hospice care is
1. The patient has a life-limiting illness with a life
expectancy of six months or less.
2. The patient does not want extraordinary measures
taken to prolong their life.
3. The patient has a caregiver in the home or will work
with hospice staff to develop a plan for alternate care giving needs. |
4 |
Does Hospice work only with Cancer Patients? |
Hospice cares for patients meeting the admission criteria and is not
specific to a particular diagnosis. The patient has an illness with a life
expectancy of six months or less. Just as there is no one diagnosis, there
are no age requirements. |
5 |
What does hospice do? |
Hospice Interdisciplinary Team is comprised of nurses, family physician,
hospice medical director, family
resource coordinators, chaplain,
certified nursing assistants level
II and volunteers.
Team members visit in the patient's home to provide care and support to
the patient and family. Services include nursing visits, 24-hour availability
of a nurse on call for emergency situations, family resource services,
counseling for the patient/family during the illness and bereavement counseling
for survivors. The team addresses medical, social and emotional needs of
the patient and family. Services are individualized and based on the needs
of the patient and family. |
6 |
How are volunteers involved in Hospice? |
Volunteers are
utilized throughout the Hospice organization. Hospice of McDowell County
has a Board of Directors comprised of individual in the community who volunteer
their time and efforts to ensure that Hospice of McDowell County serves
the needs of its citizens. Other important avenues for volunteers at Hospice
is direct patient/family care; bereavement support; office support and
committee member to list a few. Volunteers at hospice face a challenging
training program to ensure that they can address the needs of the patients/families
and continue to appropriately care for themselves. The training also assists
each volunteer to explore his/her own beliefs and feelings regarding death
and dying. To become a volunteer contact the volunteer coordinator at (828)
652-1318 for more information. |
7 |
How is Hospice funded? |
Hospice of McDowell County, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization. Hospice
receives various types
of funds from memorial
gifts, individual and company donations, fund-raising events, churches,
clubs, civic organizations, local foundations and grants. Since 1982, legislation
supported the Hospice benefit for Medicare/Medicaid. Hospice receives reimbursement
from Medicare/Medicaid and "most" private insurance companies. |
8 |
Is there a charge for hospice services? |
Yes. In addition to the above funding options, hospice supports a sliding-scale
fee based on the patient's income and medical expenses. No one is refused
Hospice care based on their ability to pay. Hospice Family
Resource Coordinator is available to assist families with financial assessments and investigate
funding options for medical care and other immediate needs. |
9 |
Isn't hospice work depressing? |
Patients and family opting to use their hospice benefit express that
they have felt relief knowing that someone is just a phone call away.
Patients have expressed that they felt the burden lift as they share
their needs
and know that someone else is there to help them carry it and they are
not leaving their family in such a binding situation. Families have stated
that the hospice team becomes a part of their family bringing hope, acceptance
and release. Families express that they see their loved ones faces "light
up" as the door opens and they realize that another friend is there
to see them. Click here to read an account from a hospice patient.
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10 |
Can a patient admitted to hospice, change their mind and
seek aggressive treatment? |
YES! YES! YES! While hospice offers palliative care (comfort vs. cure),
Hospice encourages patients and families to research all options for care.
Some hospice patients do have radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy for
palliative purposes. |
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