Admissions, Discharges And Transfers

(1) The hospice service program shall have a policy to admit only patients who meet the following criteria: (a) Has been diagnosed as terminally ill; (b) Has been certified by a physician, in writing, to have an anticipated life expectancy of six (6) months or less; (c) Has personally or through a representative voluntarily requested admission to, and been accepted by, a licensed hospice service organization; and (d) Has personally or through a representative, in writing, given informed consent to receive hospice care; or (e) Is a non-hospice patient that has been determined to need palliative care only. (2) Patients shall be accepted to receive hospice services on the basis of a reasonable expectation that the patient’s medical, nursing and psychosocial needs can be met adequately by the organization in the patient’s regular or temporary place of residence. (3) Care shall follow a written plan of care established and reviewed by the attending physician, the medical director or physician designee and the interdisciplinary group prior to providing care. Care shall continue under the supervision of the attending physician. STANDARDS FOR HOME CARE ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING CHAPTER 0720-28 HOSPICE SERVICES (4) The agency staff shall determine if the patient’s needs can be met by the organization’s services and capabilities. (5) Every person admitted for care or treatment to any agency covered by these rules shall be under the supervision of a physician as defined in this chapter who holds a license in good standing. The name of the patient’s attending physician shall be recorded in the patient’s medical record. (6) The agency staff shall obtain the patient’s written consent for hospice services. (7) The signed consent form shall be included with the patient’s individual clinical record. (8) A diagnosis must be entered in the admission records of the agency for every person admitted for care or treatment. (9) No medication or treatment shall be provided to any patient of an agency except on the order of a physician or dentist lawfully authorized to give such an order. (10) A medical record shall be developed and maintained for each patient admitted. (11) No patient shall be involuntarily discharged without a written order from the attending physician or the medical director stating the patient does not meet hospice criteria, or through other legal processes, and timely notification of next of kin and/or the authorized representative. (12) When a patient is discharged, a summary of the significant findings and events of the patient’s care, the patient’s condition on discharge and the recommendation and arrangement for future care, if any, is required. (13) The agency shall ensure that no person on the grounds of race, color, national origin or handicap, will be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or otherwise subjected to discrimination in the provision of any care or service of the agency. The agency shall protect the civil rights of patients under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.