How Hospice Works

Even though a member of the hospice team visits regularly, a family member serves as the primary caregiver to the patient.  Members of the CTMC Hospice staff make regular visits to assess the patient and provide additional care or other services. A member of the hospice team is on call 24-hours a day, seven days a week to assist in emergencies.

The hospice team develops a care plan the meets the patient’s individual needs for pain management and symptom relief.  The plan also outlines the medical and support services that will be required. This may include nursing care, personal care for the patient such dressing, bathing and basic hygiene, physician visits, social services and homemaker services. It also identifies the medical equipment, tests, procedures, medication and treatments necessary to provide high quality comfort care.

CTMC hospice provides:

• Skilled Nursing Services 
• Chaplain 
• Medical Social Worker 
• Rehabiliations Services (Occupational, Physical & Speech Therapy) 
• Home Health Aides 
• Bereavement Care 
• Respite Care 
• Caring Volunteers 
• 24-hour a day access to a registered nurse 
• Medications associated with terminal illness are covered 
• Medical equipment and supplies related to terminal illness are covered

Guidelines for hospice admission:

• Certify terminally ill and have prognoses of six months or less 
• Patient must elect hospice benefit under the care of a physician