Hospice Palliative Care Services offers two settings of care, a ten bed Hospice Care Unit and a twenty-two bed Palliative Care Unit.

Any physician can refer a client to the units. If the referring physician will not be the attending physician on the unit, she/he must appoint one.

All clients referred must be assessed regarding priority of needs.

Procedure

Hospice Care Unit Reasons for Admission:

a) Pain and Symptom Management aimed at stabilization with a goal to go home; temporary admission to allow family to recuperate in order to continue to provide care at home
b) Terminal Care for hospice/palliative care clients whose needs exceed the resources available in their present setting.

Palliative Care Unit Reasons for Admission:

a) Pain and Symptom Management and medical needs of a lesser intensity.
b) Requires care on a twenty-four hour basis and cannot be managed at home.
c) Requires a complex level of care and a longer length of stay

Inpatients of St. Joseph’s Hospital

a) A physician’s order for transfer to Hospice Care Unit/Palliative Care Unit is obtained.
b) The client and family must be agreeable to the transfer.
c) The referring units to complete the Inpatient Request Form, Medical Assessment Form and Assessment of General Care Needs and send to Central Registration.
d) Central Registration adds referral to the unit’s wait list.
e) Central Registration to notify Clinical Resource Manager/unit of referral.
f) Clinical Resource Manager/ designate to complete Priority Assessment.
g) Clinical Resource Manager/designate documents appropriateness on physician’s progress notes.
h) Clinical Resource Manager/designate notifies Central Registration of appropriateness and priority standing.

Referrals From Other Health Care Facilities

a) A physician’s order for transfer to Hospice Care Unit/Palliative Care Unit must be obtained.
b) The client and family must be agreeable to the transfer.
c) Referring agency completes the Inpatient Admission Request Form, Medical Assessment Form and Assessment of General Care Needs and sends to Central Registration.
d) Central Registration will add referral to waiting list.
e) Central Registration will notify the Clinical Resource Manager/unit of referral.
f) Clinical Resource Manager/designate to determine appropriateness and inform referring agency.
g) Clinical Resource Manager notifies Central Registration of appropriateness and priority standing.

Referrals From the Community

a) Referring physician, Case Manager or Community Nurse to notify Clinical Resource Manager/unit that a physician’s referral has been obtained.
b) Clinical Resource Manager/designate to complete Priority Assessment with Physician, Case Coordinator or Community Nurse (may be done by phone).
c) Clinical Nurse Manager/designate to determine appropriateness and notify those concerned.
d) Clinical Resource Manager/designate to notify Central Registration of appropriateness and priority standing.
e) Central Registration to add referral to the unit’s wait list.

Note: As client’s health status may change, priority assessments to be updated and priority standings to be changed accordingly.

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