Concepts and Practice of Hospice and Palliative Care - Essay Example

Hospice Care Introduction The concept of hospice evolved in the 11th century referring to the place where those who are terminally ill are given care. It is often known as end-of-life care for patients who are suffering from incurable diseases. The concept of hospice came in the United States in 1970s with the work of Cicely Saunders and since then it has rapidly expanded. This paper will assess the evolution, advantages and disadvantages and the funding of hospice care. Cecily Saunders established the hospice movement in the 1960s in Great Britain. The basic concept of this facility was to provide care to address the social, emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of those who are dying. The concept spread widely in the United States and it was something outside the conventional healthcare system. The hospices at that time were funded through charities and there was volunteer staff that provided personalized care to the patients. Hospice was not known for being a place for care but rather a concept of care. As it established, the hospice leaders came together to formulate standards and guidelines for developing hospice care (Cartwright, Miller, & Volpin, 2009). In 1978, the National Hospice Organization (NHO) was developed and it provided a national forum for education, discussion, and support of hospice quality care standards. Medicare coverage was expanded by the Congress in 1983 to include hospice care. Hospice benefits were also offered by many private insurers as they recognized the compassion for hospice care and its cost effectiveness. The number of hospices and numbers of patients in hospices have increased gradually and in 1991, there were about 1,830 hospices serving about 212,000 patients throughout U.S. Today the hospice concept remains unchanged since its early days. The intention of a hospice is to create a setting where patients get relief from their pain and are able to find support to improve the quality of their remaining life. Hospices make the effort to create a setting in which people can die peacefully. Today the hospices are a part of the mainstream healthcare system of U.S (Groninger, 2012). Choosing a hospice care may have advantages and disadvantages. The major advantage of a hospice care is the availability of a care team which consists of professionals and volunteers. This comprehensive and interdisciplinary team is involved in understanding and taking care of the patient’s needs. The team includes nurses, physicians, social workers, and trained volunteers who fulfill the needs of the patients. Another advantage is that the care is available continuously; 24 hours a day even on holidays and weekends. Caregivers are also given support and relief in hospices thus they and the patients can have continuous access to the hospice care team. Living in a hospice is usually considered to be a cost effective decision as it cuts down the expenses of buying durable medical equipment, medications, and other medical supplies. Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurances are now covering the costs of hospice care needs. If a patient and his caregivers need comfort care then hospice care avoids many procedures and treatments involved in hospitalizing. The hospice care team supports and relieves the patients and helps them to achieve their goals (Huskamp, Stevenson, Chernew, & Newhouse, 2010). There may however also be disadvantages in choosing to live in hospices. Hospices may often have restrictions on the treatments. Hospices may have difficulties in medical expenses such as diagnostic tests and x-rays must be the financial responsibility of the hospice but they are often not approved by hospices as these tests may be expensive and not beneficial. Another disadvantage is that hospitalization is discouraged until the patient is in the hospice. The hospice only has provisions for hospital stays which are short-term. Hospices do not cover experimental treatment as they are considered to be life-prolonging. These disadvantages often give patients the need to give away the hospice option. Sometimes patients are not referred to go to a hospice until they get very close to their death hence they miss out many opportunities that hospices offer. There are also misconceptions about hospices which led people to not consider them. Lack of awareness is also a reason why people often miss out on the benefits and services of a hospice (Forman, 2003). Hospices receive their funding from governmental programs, private insurance, public donations, and grants by charitable foundations. They are reimbursed by Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurances for the care given to the terminally ill. Donations to hospices are a major way of funding as families of patients who die make memorial donations to those specific hospices. These funds are significant and help in running the hospice and cover expenses. Other ways are public charities, donations by corporations, or through fund raising events. If a patient has Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance, there is never the need to pay for hospice care from personal wealth. Even if a patient doesn’t have Medicaid, Medicare or private insurance coverage, nonprofit hospices provide services free of cost in regard to their charitable mission. There are many nonprofit hospices which are dedicated to serve the patients who are in need of significant care when their lives are ending. For other hospices, there is Medicaid or Medicare coverage, private insurance coverage, or if none of them then the patient has to pay from his own pocket. Hospice care at home, however, costs much lesser then hospitals, nursing homes, and institutional settings (Conner, 1998). However, hospice care has become a common healthcare provision for people who suffer from incurable diseases especially in the United States. The trend has increased and it has led many patients and their families to receive extra care and support throughout the difficult time. Hospices understand the importance of a person’s life and give them the opportunity to spend their remaining life free of pain and suffering. Hospice care has become reachable for many people in U.S. because of the charitable missions and insurance coverage. There are misconceptions but the trend is becoming increasingly popular and thousands of Americans are taking hospice care until their lives end. Hospices are the best for patients suffering from cancer. Hospices are an important part of the healthcare system today. References Cartwright, J., Miller, L., & Volpin, M. (2009). Hospice in Assisted Living: Promoting Good Quality Care at End of Life. The Gerontologist Conner, S. (1998). Hospice: Practice, Pitfalls, and Promise. Taylor & Francis Forman, W. (2003). Hospice and Palliative Care: Concepts and Practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning Groninger, H. (2012). A gravely ill patient faces grim results of outliving her eligibility for hospice benefits. Health Affairs Huskamp, H., Stevenson, D., Chernew, M., Newhouse J. (2010). A New Medicare End-Of-Life Benefit For Nursing Home Residents. Health Affairs Read More