#162 Hospice 102: Practical Tips and Nuances

This podcast episode explores the complexities and gray areas of transitioning patients to hospice care, emphasizing that the decision to elect hospice is merely the starting point in the discharge process. It highlights the importance of determining the appropriate care setting, whether general inpatient or routine, and cautions against making promises to patients about care specifics, as hospice agencies conduct their own evaluations. The discussion covers medication management on hospice, categorizing medications into those normally covered, not covered, "it depends," and those unrelated to the hospice diagnosis, with coverage largely dependent on the agency's agreement with the care plan. The podcast further addresses challenges such as patients returning to the hospital while on hospice and the nuances of concurrent care models.