General Information
When cure is no longer possible, Cypress Basin Hospice focuses on providing the best quality of life possible. Physicians are encouraged to remain involved in their patients care and will be informed of their progress. When making a referral, be sure to mention Cypress Basin Hospice by name.
Hospice Resources Available:
American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (847) 375-4712; web site at www.aahpm.org
The National Hospice Help Line (800) 658-8898; web site at www.nhpco.org
Cypress Basin Hospice (888) 429-2966 or (903) 577-1510
When to refer someone to Cypress Basin Hospice:
The decision to refer to hospice is often difficult for the physician who has been primarily involved in a patients care and who has observed disease progression and its impact on the patient and their family. While it may be clear that the patient's clinical condition has reached a point appropriate for the hospice referral, it may be much more difficult to determine the patient's or family's emotional readiness for accepting the finality of the disease. Please remember that the staff of Cypress Basin Hospice can help you have that difficult discussion with the patient and family through our informational consults; these can be held at any time you feel the patient and family can benefit with educational information about disease progression and the services available to support them.
Medicare and Medicaid rules require that a patient can be admitted for hospice services when the life expectancy is six months or less if the disease were to run its normal course, and the patient is no longer receiving curative treatment or medical interventions. Please keep in mind that you are not expected to prognosticate the conclusion of the illness but rather to conclude that the illness has advanced to its end stage. Information is available to you through several websites. Information that will support your clinical assessment in making a referral can be found at www.palmettogba.com. Information on CMS advisories and bulletins on hospice matters can be found at www.cms.hhs.gov/providerupdate/
How to refer someone to Cypress Basin Hospice:
To refer a patient to Cypress Basin Hospice on-line, please click here. Or you may wish to call us at (903) 577-1510. Referrals are promptly attended and informational consults are always available without cost or obligation for the patient or family.
How to learn more about Hospice and Palliative Medicine
There are several organizations who have initiated specific training for physicians in enhancing their knowledge base of hospice and palliative care. The EPEC initiative by the American Medical Association has helped thousands of primary care physicians and specialists develop a broad based understanding of the clinical as well as the psychosocial and spiritual issues associated with end of life. Visit their website at www.epec.net.