What is the difference between Hospice and Palliative Care?
"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." -Nelson Mandela
What is the focus?
PALLIATIVE CARE:
Palliative care is not hospice care: it does not replace the patient’s primary treatment; palliative care works together with the primary treatment being received. It focuses on the pain, symptoms and stress of serious illness most often as an adjunct to curative care modalities.
HOSPICE CARE:
Hospice care focuses on the pain, symptoms, and stress of serious illness during the terminal phase. The terminal phase is defined by Medicare as an individual with a life expectancy of 6-months or less if the disease runs its natural course.
Who can receive this type of care?
PALLIATIVE CARE:
Any individual with a serious illness, regardless of life expectancy or prognosis.
HOSPICE CARE:
Any individual with a serious illness measured in months not years. Hospice enrollment requires the individual has a terminal prognosis.
Can the patient continue to receive curative treatments?
PALLIATIVE CARE:
Yes, individuals receiving palliative care are often still pursuing curative treatment modalities. Palliative care is not limited to the hospice benefit. However, there may be limitations based on their insurance provider.
HOSPICE CARE:
The goal of hospice is to provide comfort through pain and symptom management, psychosocial and spiritual support because curative treatment modalities are no longer beneficial. Hospice should be considered at the point when the burden of any given curative treatment modalities outweighs the benefit coupled with prognosis. Other factors to consider and discuss, based on individual patient situations, are treatment modalities that no longer provide benefit due to a loss of efficacy.
What services are provided?
PALLIATIVE CARE:
Pain and symptom management, in-person and telephonic visits, help navigating treatment options, advance care planning and referrals to community resources.
HOSPICE CARE:
Pain and symptom management, 24-hour on-call service, in-person visits, medical equipment, related medications, inpatient care, continuous care in the home, respite care, volunteer services, spiritual care, bereavement and counseling services. There are four levels of care that can be provided to patients per CMS regulations (routine, inpatient, continuous, and respite care).
Who provides these services?
PALLIATIVE CARE:
Palliative care may be provided by an interdisciplinary team. However, most palliative services are provided by a physician, nurse practitioner or nurse with consultative support from social worker and chaplaincy services. These services are performed in collaboration with the primary care physician and specialists through consultative services or co-management of the patient’s disease process.
HOSPICE CARE:
Hospice care is provided by an interdisciplinary team that is led by a physician and includes nurses, social workers, chaplains, volunteers, hospice aides, therapy disciplines and others. These services are performed in collaboration with the attending physician.
Attribution for this post provided by National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
If you or a loved one is in need of any of the services listed above please give us a call at 916-858-1440. RC Hospice & Palliative Care is incredibly devoted to providing care that meets the highest level. Our family, taking care of yours.