About Hospice Referrals

Course overview

Hospice care provides medical, psychological, and spiritual care to individuals with a terminal illness. It also addresses the needs of these individuals' families. Hospice care focuses on comfort and quality of life by reducing pain and distress. Due to the complexity of issues at the end of life, optimal utilization of the hospice benefit can only occur if there is adequate time for the hospice to work with individuals and families. This course provides guidelines on how to make a timely, competent hospice referral. It also discusses Medicare guidelines for hospice eligibility and how to effectively communicate about hospice. Without hospice care, individuals with a terminal illness may have poor quality of life during their final days.