As Keay and Schonwetter state, the attending physician is responsible for the services used in the care of the patient. Care of the dying patient, whether in the home or the nursing home, is best attained using an interdisciplinary approach. Care is directed toward the patient and the family, and seeks to address physical, psychologic and spiritual issues. The comprehensive palliative care provided by hospice will assist the physician and the nursing home staff in the care of terminally ill patients and help in easing the dying process for the patient and the family. As the acuity of patients in the nursing home setting continues to increase, it behooves the attending physician to utilize all appropriate services in the care of the patient.
Hospice care in the nursing home.
Care of the dying geriatric patient. The hospice experiment. A guide to hospice care. Harvard Health Letter. Harvard Medical School Health Publications, 1994.