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What can Hospice do for my patient that I can’t?
- Hospice works in conjunction with the excellent care that you give your patient. We are an additional resource to both doctors and patients in providing assistance with end-of-life issues that affect patients and their families not only physically, but mentally, emotionally, and financially.
- The Hospice Movement is a medically directed, interdisciplinary program of services that, whenever possible, involves families and loved ones in giving care to the patient.
- Specific Gulfside services include individualized care based on patient/family need which may include:
- Direct patient care in the home, within nursing care facilities, or in our Hospice House facility;
- Coordination of end-of-life issues by our Medical Director;
- Social Services and Home Health assistance for those trying to manage day-to-day activities while facing the stress of life-limiting illness;
- Family and caregivers can receive guidance, support, & respite services;
- Grief and Bereavement counseling is available to all residents of Pasco County, regardless of Hospice admission or status.
- Direct patient care in the home, within nursing care facilities, or in our Hospice House facility;
When is the best time to refer a patient for Hospice Services?
- Hospice patients are accepted as soon as their diagnosis makes it appropriate, however, as with most other effective treatment plans, it is best to NOT wait until the final stages.
- Studies have proven that the sooner Hospice care is begun, the better it is for the patient. Early intervention will aid patients & loved ones on so many important levels, Hospice contact is best initiated shortly following the determination of a terminal prognosis.
Where can Hospice services be received? Must my patient be homebound?
- Patients do not need to be homebound. Patients do not even need to be “bedbound.” The goal of Hospice is to aid those with life-limiting illnesses to lead the highest quality of life possible.
- Direct patient care is offered at the patient’s home, within nursing homes, assisted living facilities and occasionally in hospitals, as well as in our Hospice House.
What services are provided and how often will my patient be visited?
- The patient’s Plan of Care is coordinated by the Hospice Care Team to meet the specific needs of the individual, and will be adjusted as these needs change.
- Patients are visited as determined by their condition, with Hospice staff available on a 24-hour on-call basis. Should the need arise, visits with varied team members may be as often as several times per day.
Who makes up the Hospice Care Team and how much will I be involved in the Plan of Care?
- Physicians may be involved as much as they and their patient decide. Referring physicians may coordinate the patient’s Plan of Care with Hospice staff, or transfer care to Gulfside’s Medical Director.
- Care Teams are headed by our Medical Director and will vary with each individual patient. Care Teams may include physicians, nurses, home health aides, social workers, chaplains, and Hospice trained volunteers.
But I care about my patient, isn’t this just “giving up”?
- Far from giving up, referring your patient early is probably the best gift you can give. The patient and family will greatly appreciate the caring physical, mental and emotional health services which are provided by our nurses, home health aides, social workers, chaplains and trained volunteers.
- Our staff and volunteers receive detailed, professional training specific to providing end-of-life care. The Hospice philosophy believes deeply in treating both the patient and family throughout this difficult time. Early referral helps all of those affected to plan and to prepare in a healthy manner.
What about the costs?
- Hospice care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance programs.
- Gulfside Regional Hospice is committed to serving patients regardless of diversity, disability, diagnosis or ability to pay. Our services are available to everyone within Pasco County, regardless of their insurance coverage.
- Due to the generosity of our supporters, no Hospice appropriate patient will be denied our services due to an inability to pay.
What about Medicare Coverage?
- Recent substantial changes in Medicare regulations and guidelines have relaxed the rules. Years ago, in order to receive Medicare coverage for Hospice service, physicians were required to sign a statement saying that the patient would not live over one year.
- Changes have clarified and loosened the benefit’s definition of “terminally ill,” resulting in earlier Hospice referral in the course of patient illness. The amendment allows a patient to receive Hospice benefits for an indefinite time and emphasizes the physician’s judgment regarding the illness, rather than merely following an expanse of time.
For more specific information, see our page, Medicare & Hospice.
I hear you saying that Hospice care is beneficial and should be started as soon as possible. Why?
- Once a patient is referred, the patient and family may begin their relationship with our Hospice Care Team. The team will work with the patient’s physician or our Medical Director to make sure that the patient is pain free. Providing a spectrum of end-of-life services, we can help the family through the grieving process and to prepare for the patient’s death.
- When a patient is referred to us only a day or two prior to death, the true benefit of all the services that our interdisciplinary team can provide is greatly “shortened.”
How can I make the referral? What is the process?
- The patient’s family or physician may initiate the referral process by calling our office. One of our Admissions nurses will then follow-up with a visit at the patient’s home.
- For more detailed information, click here to see our “Admissions” page.
How may I contact Gulfside Regional Hospice?
Gulfside Regional Hospice
- Phone: 727-845-5707 or Toll free: 800-561-4883
- Email: info@grhospice.org
- Mailing Address: 6117 Trouble Creek Road, New Port Richey, FL 34653