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The Hospice Decision

"You matter to the last moment of your life, and we will do all we can, not only to help you die peacefully, but to live until you die." Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the first modern hospice.

Hospice is a philosophy of care for the individual. It emphasizes compassionate care, quality of life, and choices. Hospice affirms life, neither hastening nor postponing death, but rather recognizing that death is the final stage of life. The hospice philosophy is based on the hope and belief that through appropriate pain and symptom control, that individuals with life limiting illness can be cared for safely and comfortably by family and friends with the help and guidance of the hospice team.

Hospice is not just for cancer patients. There are many endstage disease processes, end-stage lung, heart, and liver disease, as well as many other conditions that may be termed as debility non-specific or multi-system failure.

Hospice care is available to anyone who:

• In consultation with his/her physician, chooses to no longer seek curative treatment
• Has a limited life expectancy of approximately six months or less, as certified by a physician
• Signs a consent agreeing to comfort care and hospice philosophy

Hospice services, most medications for pain, as well as supplies and equipment necessary for a patient's comfort and safety are reimbursable by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans.

Friends, family members, heath care workers or patients themselves may request hospice services. Physician approval must be obtained prior to providing services. Once a patient has made the decision to no longer seek curative care, Adventist St. Thomas Hospice can be contacted as soon as possible. This initial call will significantly lessen anxiety and maximize the patient's remaining quality of life.