Physician guide

Hospice of Kitsap County'sGuide for Physicians Includes Medical Guidelines for Determining Prognosis Hospice of Kitsap County is providing you with these guidelines as part of Hospice’s Physician Information Service to serve as a reference and assist you in the care of your patients.
Our Interdisciplinary Team is available for consultation and assistance in providing the best home hospice care for your patients. We are a Medicare and Medicaid certified, state-licensed agency with more than 20 years of home hospice care experience. We are a member agency of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Washington State Hospice Organization, United Way of Kitsap County, and the Bainbridge Island Foundation and have a reputation for excellence and high professional standards.
We thank you for trusting Hospice of Kitsap County to work with you in caring for your hospice-appropriate Hospice care emphasizes the importance of the family-patient-doctor relationship and is a way of insuring that individuals in the final stages of a life-limiting illness receive the full range of palliative medical, nursing and supportive services. Care for adult and pediatric patients with cancer or non-cancer diagnoses Pain control and symptom management, including medications related to the Hospice diagnosis Professional nursing and home health aide care Social work, spiritual, and bereavement counseling Trained volunteers for respite and bereavement support When Part of the Individual Hospice Plan of Care:• Short-term inpatient respite care at contracted facilities Short-term inpatient care for symptom management at contracted hospitals and facilities Dietary consultation, rehabilitative therapies (physical, occupational, speech), medical suppliesand durable medical equipment The patient has a terminal illness with an approximate life-expectancy of six (6) months or less.** The physician has informed the patient (and family, with patient’s permission) of the diagnosis and prognosis.* The patient, family, and the physician agree to palliative (non-curative) care in the hospice program.* A willing primary caregiver is available, or, with the assistance of the Hospice team, the patient is able to develop analternative plan for caregiving when no longer able to care for self.
* It is not necessary that the patient or the family accept the diagnosis or prognosis, nor is it necessary thatthe patient acknowledge that his/her illness is terminal. It is, however necessary that the patient be fullyinformed about the palliative nature of care, the diagnosis and prognosis.
** If the disease follows its usual course.
Preparing Patients for Hospice (From the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization)“We are going to treat you aggressively, but a time may come when we will have to change our focus from cure to comfort.
My commitment to you is that I will be honest about what I am seeing.”(B. Baines, M.D. Family Practice) “We must be honest and say, ‘I don’t have any more treatment that will cure your disease.’ Then we must be good physiciansand add, ‘I do have treatment that will ensure your comfort. I will be here for you.’(E. Anderson, M.D. Internal Medicine) For many people, fear of the unknown is at least as great as fear of death itself. Presenting hospice as a medical option fortreating a terminal illness can help with many unknowns—“fear of uncontrollable pain, nausea, vomiting, embarrassmentand especially abandonment” that often accompany end-stage disease.
(Fletcher and Creagan) Your Patients Will Be Reassured If You Can Say: “As your physician, I will continue to see you and care for you” “Our first priority is managing your symptoms” “Services are available where you live” “Your family / caregivers will also receive the support of the hospice team” HOW ARE HOSPICE SERVICES FUNDED? / PHYSICIAN REIMBURSEMENT ISSUES Services of the patient’s attending physician are billable Congress has passed legislation creating a Hospice benefit directly to Medicare/DSHS/Private Insurers, just as though the patient were not on Hospice care.
Also, Washington State has implemented a hospice benefit Physicians attending Medicare hospice patients may also under DSHS. Participation in these certified hospice bill for care plan oversight: G0065, for oversight services programs is voluntary. To elect this kind of care, the patient Consultative services related to the hospice diagnosis must Be eligible for Medicare (Part A) hospital insurance or be approved in advance by the Hospice Team.
Have his or her physician and the Hospice Medical Director certify that he/she has a terminal illness.
Each person’s insurance policy differs. Hospice of Kitsap Sign appropriate consent forms electing to receive County will verify which benefits insurance covers. Most hospice care in place of the standard Medicare/Medicaid insurance policies, including HMO’s and PPO’s, include Self Pay:The patient or family may pay directly. Financialconsideration is available.
The decision to maintain the patient in a palliative mode of care
(symptom management and pain control) is a joint decision
to be made by the patient, family, and physician.
Physical discomfort must be relieved before addressing all other forms of suffering: emotional, social, and spiritual.
At the time of the first visit to the home, the hospice nurse will perform an initial assessment for pain and/or level ofcomfort. A review of systems for symptom management is conducted with special emphasis on: General Process for Pain Management:
Assess for multiple causes pain (physical, related or unrelated to primary diagnosis)
Treat each type of pain (use adjuvants for bone, neuropathic, visceral pain) Reassess continuously, especially when pain remains uncontrolled Hydrocodone/APAP 5/500 mg 1-2 tabs po q 4-6 hours All new orders for strong opioids should be accompanied by: Order for a stimulant laxative (e.g. senna) Strongly consider an order for at least a few doses of an An order for breakthrough pain medication if a long- Equianalgesic conversion table: (abbreviated version) For breakthrough pain:Oxycodone 5 - 10 mg Morphine 10 - 15 mg 1 tab SL/po q 15 min prnLiq. Morphine 20 mg/cc 1/4 - 1 cc po/buccal q 1-2 hrs prn Hospice Medications Often Used In Terminal Care: Lorazepam (for agitation/anxiety/dyspnea): Prochlorperazine (for nausea/vomiting):25 mg suppositories (#6) Morphine (for pain/dyspnea) :10 mg SL tabs (#15) Acetaminophen suppositories (for fever):650 mg (#12) Hyoscyamine (Levsin) gtts. (for secretions): (Transdermal Fentanyl Patch (DURAGESIC) 100 mcg strength approximately = Morphine sulfate 30 mg po q 4 hours = Morphine sulfate 180 mg/24 hours) GUIDELINES FOR PALLIATIVE CARE OF COMMON SYMPTOMS BY SYSTEMS Physicians are welcome to request copies of our pre-printed order sheets.
Senna (Senokot) or Bisacodyl (Dulcolax) po 1 q day Senna 4 tabs BID plus Lactulose 15 ml q day Senna 4 tabs BID plus Lactulose 15 ml BID Senna 4 tabs BID plus Lactulose 30 ml BID DiarrheaClear liquids, plus one of the following:• Loperamide tab po after each loose stool up to 8 doses qd Diphenoxylate hydrochloride 5 mg po after each stool up to 8 doses per day Prochlorperazine 10 mg po or25 mg suppository pr q 6 h prn Promethazine 25 mg po or 25 mg suppository pr q 4 - 6h prn Zolpidem (Ambien) 10 mg 1/2 - 1 tab po q HS prn Atropine 0.5 mg IM/SQ/po q 4 - 6 hours prn Hyoscyamine (Levsin) gtts, po/SL 1 - 2 gtts. prn Oxybutynin (Ditropan) 5 - 10 mg po q 8 hrs prn Nystatin suspension swish/swallow QID X 7 days Clotrimazole troches 5 times a day x 7 days Fluconazole 100 mg po 2 tabs first day; then 1 tab qd for 4 days Miconazole/clotrimazole vaginal cream; one applicator at bedtime x 7 days Oxygen at 1 - 3 1/m per nasal cannula prn Lorazepam 1 mg tabs - 1 tab po q 6 hours prn Hydrocortisone 1% cream topical 2 - 4 times a day prn Occlusive opaque dressing prn (e.g. Tegaderm) Because the care needs of a dying patient encompass more than medical treatment of a disease,the hospice team can be a valuable resource in dealing with complex end-of-life issues andextending the physician’s care. A Hospice referral can result in better care coordination, lesspanic, and more feelings that things have gone well and that the patient was well served.
Medical management at patient’s home.
24 hour availability of skilled care.
supervision. Assistance in locating other securing supplies/equipment. Fullsupport to patient’s home.
and direction to hospice team.
Available for consultation (no cost) withattending physician on treatment plansand other issues.
anticipating and coping with crisisepisodes, the disease process, andwhen to call the doctor.
increases coping abilities of patients and physician and the physician’s staff.
their time together. Hospice helpsfamilies prepare for the dying process.
Social worker assists patients and theirfamily members with locating availablecommunity services ( e.g. financialservices, Meals-On Wheels, etc.).
Establishes relationships with localagencies to provide patients and theirfamilies with low cost assistance, ifneeded. Spiritual caregivers providemulti-denominational spiritual support,if desired. Volunteer program forcompanionship, running errands, lighthouse work and short periods of respitecare. Bereavement programs forfamilies including adult grief and losssupport groups and specializedprograms for children and adolescents.
phone: (360) 415-6911 fax: (360) 415-6905 To make a referral to Hospice, please call the
Companions in Care Referral Center at (360) 792-6699.

Source: http://www.hospicekc.org/publications/doctors/physician_guide.pdf