Anyone - a minister, parish nurse, rabbi, friend, or even a next-door neighbor - can make the first call to Capital Hospice. The initial referral does not have to come from a doctor or social worker. Often the patient’s family or friends make the first call.
Before actual admission, however, the physician must certify that the patient is medically appropriate for hospice care. Capital Hospice contacts the physician to obtain this verification.
Then, by law, the decision belongs to the patient. And when a patient isn't medically qualified for hospice care, or isn't emotionally ready for the full array of hospice services, we offer palliative care. Either way:
The earlier a patient is referred, the more we can do to help. Sadly, many people believe that hospice care is unavailable or inappropriate until literally, the last days of a person’s life.
A great deal can be done, however, many months earlier to improve quality of life. Capital Hospice can provide:
Another important benefit of early referral: Because we can do so much more, the patient enjoys better quality of life, resulting in more presence of mind with which to consider difficult choices and make wishes known to loved ones. This relieves loved ones from having to wrestle with difficult decisions on their own.
We can tell you this: Having seen how much we can do for them, many Capital Hospice patients and families say their biggest regret is that they didn’t call sooner.
In response to growing concerns about keeping health information private, Capital Hospice protects our patient’s privacy.
Calendar