Hospice Care
What is General Inpatient Hospice (GIP) Care?
Hospice care, or end-of-life care, provides terminally ill patients with comfort, compassion, and dignity. This involves a team-oriented approach to medical and psychological care, pain management as well as emotional and spiritual support – all tailored to the patient’s needs and wishes. Support extends to the patient’s loved ones.
Unlike other medical care, the focus of hospice care is not to cure the underlying disease, but to support the highest quality of life possible for whatever time remains.
About Inpatient Hospice Care
When patients in the hospital have severe symptoms that cannot be managed at home, inpatient hospice care is available at Pascack Valley Medical Center. Patients and family members are able to work with an entire hospice team at the hospital which includes:
- The patient’s physician
- The hospice medical director
- Hospice nurses
- Certified health aides
- Social workers
- Dietitians
- Chaplains
When is GIP Appropriate?
An evaluation will take place once it is determined that your loved one meets general criteria for hospice care and the specific criteria for an inpatient stay at the hospital. This includes a patient whose prognosis for life expectancy is six months or less and the decision is made to provide only comfort measures.
GIP may be initiated when the interdisciplinary Group (IDG) determines the patient’s pain and symptoms cannot be effectively managed in the patient’s home or other residential setting.
An evaluation will take place to determine that your loved one meets criteria for inpatient hospice care and are hospice eligible.
The Comforts of Home
Inpatient rooms for qualified hospice care patients will be transformed to create a warm atmosphere so patients and loved ones can visit in the comfort of a home-like environment.
Who Pays?
Medicare, Medicaid and most insurers and HMOs pay for hospice care with little or no out-of-pocket costs to the patient or family. Financial assistance is available for patients without insurance coverage.
If you have any questions regarding your care plan, please contact the Case Management Department at 201-383-1904.