Physician services are available to the attending physician, patient, and hospice care team as a consultant and resource.
Physician services include assistance with diagnosis of illness; assistance with decision making concerning treatment options; coordination of patient assessments for interdisciplinary meetings; facilitation of discussion about prognosis and goals of care between the patient/caregiver, family members, and other providers if necessary or requested; consultation on comfort care issues such as pain control and symptom management, medical treatments that may be beneficial but not cure-based.
Initiating Physician Services
Hospice medical director is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via pager or telephone to answer specific questions regarding a patient’s hospice eligibility, plan of care, and other issues. Physician services are initiated by the physician with Eternal Faith Hospice medical director via pager or phone call for consultation on a patient-by patient basis.
Sound Physician Relationships between Physicians and Eternal Faith Hospice Staff
The Eternal Faith Hospice Physician Services program follows Medicare guidelines as to physician services available during each phase of hospice care including routine home visits, 24 hours a day coverage by consulting physicians, coordination of interdisciplinary meetings related to patient’s care plan, facilitation of discussion about prognosis and goals of care, and coordination of end-of-life referrals. Physician services related to relief or management of pain, anxiety, and physical discomfort are available 24 hours a day.
Patient Care Team Meetings
The patient care team meets regularly to discuss the plan of care for each patient. A team approach results in better care coordination among all disciplines caring for hospice patients. Physician input is presented as to the course of treatment being followed, assessment of current medical conditions and their effect on quality of life under hospice care; and other issues that may influence plan of care.
Physician should provide all information relative to prognosis and medical management of the patient’s current condition.
