When a patient is admitted to hospice care, it is because their condition is terminal. A doctor has given the patient six months to live. If, after six months, the patient is still alive but continues to need hospice care, the care can be renewed. But what happens if the patient improves significantly? Sometimes, it means leaving hospice until it is needed again.
When a patient leaves hospice in this way, it is referred to as a “discharge.” Here are situations which would necessitate a discharge:
- If the patient is no longer believed to be terminal, then they would be discharged from hospice.
- If the patient themselves no longer wishes to be in hospice, they can also voluntarily opt out.
Patients might opt out of hospice for any number of reasons. Perhaps they feel their health is sufficiently improved to no longer require hospice, or maybe they have other reasons for desiring to leave. They might simply be looking for a better fit, for example.
There are a couple of other reasons hospices may discharge patients that are not related directly to health:
- Sometimes a patient may transfer from one hospice to another.
- If a hospice is unable to effectively perform its services due to disruptive behavior from a patient, sometimes the patient may be discharged.
If you find yourself in a scenario where you disagree with the hospice’s decision to discharge, you can file an appeal.
What if a patient is discharged due to health improvements, but then later takes a downturn again? If the patient’s doctor again believes that the patient has a six month life expectancy, then the patient may resume hospice care.
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We know that you probably have many questions about hospice care and how it works. We can answer your questions in detail and explain how we can help you and your loved ones when you give us a call to schedule a consultation. Please contact us at (470) 395-6567 to learn more about our hospice services in Atlanta.