Patients do not need a DNR status for hospice admission. Once the patient is enrolled in a hospice program, the attending physician will be a primary resource on the patient's' medical condition and needs. The hospice nurse will be in regular contact regarding symptom management, changes in the patient's condition, and the need for clinic or home visit follow-up. The physician provides the patient's name, address, age, present location, diagnosis, and estimated prognosis and suggest the family have an informational meeting with the hospice staff. Then the Hospice Admissions Coordinator will visit the patient and family to assess immediate needs, recommend an initial plan of care and obtain the patient's informed consent.
Hospice care can begin as soon as a workable plan is agreed on by patient and hospice.
Iowa City Hospice offers all of the services listed below and others as appropriate. For specific details contact Iowa City Hospice. Nurses are provided as often as necessary whether the patient is home bound or not. Family counselors help the family cope with the stress which often accompanies terminal illness. They also address the family anxieties and treat the emotional focus of the patient prior to the onset of medical acuity.