Hospice nurse Beth Cavenaugh helps to clear up confusion around live discharges from hospice services.  Sometimes people on hospice care improve or stabilize, and no longer meet the criteria to receive care from the hospice agency.  The discharge process can be confusing, and it’s important to know the things that need to happen.  Here are a few highlights from this episode:

• Live discharges are initiated by the hospice agency when the patient no longer qualifies.
• Sometimes hospice patients improve because the care has become consistent, or their condition simply gets better.  Their disease process may stabilize. 
• Hospice staff are required to give the patient and caregiver notice of the discharge according to state and federal requirements.
• Discharge planning should ALWAYS happen - the nurse handles the clinical items (medications, equipment, a new healthcare provider/team), and the social worker handles the psychosocial concerns (caregiving assistance, community resources and support). 
• The patient or decision maker has the right to file an appeal if they don’t agree with the discharge from hospice services. 
• The hospice agency is required to continue providing services until the decision about the appeal is received.  
• Here’s a link with information about hospice appeals:   What to Know About Hospice Appeals

Connect with guest host hospice nurse Beth Cavenaugh at bethcavenaugh.com Buy Beth’s book Some Light at the End: Your Bedside Guide for Peaceful Palliative and Hospice Care Buy The Power and Pain of Nursing: Self-Care Practices to Protect and Replenish Compassion.

You can find the Approaching Death Support Kit at bkbooks.com.

Find all of Barbara Karnes’ products and resources at bkbooks.com.

Read Barbara’s blog at bkbooks.com.

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Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help.  Whether you want to connect by phone or video, you can book a FREE 30-Minute Hospice Navigation Session, or a more in-depth 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95.  If you need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, we’re here to answer your questions.  A 60-Minute Navigation Session by video call allows up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time. We believe you deserve to have good hospice care.  Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.  

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer

Website:  theheartofhospice.com

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Email:  [email protected]

More podcast episodes:  The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to [email protected].