Patient Care Standard

Patient Care Standard 1. Patient Certification –To be eligible for hospice care, an individual, or his/her representative, must sign an election statement with a licensed hospice; the individual must have a certification of terminal illness and must have a plan of care (POC) which is established before services are provided. 2. Admission criteria – The hospice shall have written policies to be followed in making decisions regarding acceptance of patients for care. Decisions are based upon medical, physical, and psychosocial information provided by the patient’s attending physician, the patient/family and the interdisciplinary group. The admission criteria shall include: a. The ability of the agency to provide core services on a 24-hour basis and provide for or arrange for non-core services on a 24-hour basis to the extent necessary to meet the needs of individuals for care that is reasonable and necessary for the palliation and management of terminal illness and related conditions; b. Certification of terminal illness signed by the attending physician and the medical director of the agency upon admission and recertification; c. A documented assessment of the patient/family needs and desires for hospice services; d. Informed consent signed by patient or representative who is authorized in accordance with state law to elect the hospice care, which will include the purpose and scope of hospice services. 3. Admission Procedure – Patients are to be admitted only upon the order of the patient’s attending physician. 4. An assessment visit shall be made by a registered nurse, who will assess the patient’s needs with emphasis on pain and symptom control. This assessment shall occur within 48 hours of referral for admission, unless otherwise ordered by physician or unless a request for delay is made by patient/family. 5. Documentation at admission will be retained in the clinical record and shall include: a. Signed consent forms; b. Documented evidence that a patient’s rights statement has been given or explained to the patient and/or family; c. Clinical data including physician’s order for care; d. Patient Release of Information; e. Orientation of the patient/care giver, which includes: i. Advanced directives; ii. Agency services; iii. Patient’s rights; and iv. agency contact procedures; f. Certification of terminal illness signed by the medical director and attending physician.