One or any combination of any of the following signs may indicate that cancer has progressed to a point where all involved would likely benefit from hospice care:
- Advanced, recurrent or metastatic cancer
- No curative treatment being sought
- Palliative radiation or chemo considered on an individual basis
Your patients may have priorities and goals aside from living longer. Talk with your patients about their health goals, fears and trade-offs of treatment. To help you determine if it’s time to recommend hospice care, ask your patients the following questions:
- What is your understanding of your health or your condition?
- What are your goals if your health worsens?
- What are your fears?
- What trade-offs are you willing to make and not willing to make?
Hospice care can help your patients, and you. We can help you determine if your patient qualifies for hospice care, or introduce the topic with your patients. Please use this information as a guideline. If you have questions about the medical guidelines for hospice care or a specific patient, please contact us online or call (800) 237-4629.
