We are specialists in end-of-life care.
Our hospice team is trained to understand patients and families as they cope with advanced or terminal illness and to manage healthcare and life transitions while aligning with their goals, wishes and values.
How to Refer a Patient to Hospice
Referring a patient to our hospice program is simple. You can reach us via phone (719.633.3400), fax (719.457.8101), email (Admissions@PikesPeakHospice.org), or complete our Referral Form.
Is your patient eligible for hospice?
Hospice has guidelines, both general and disease-specific, to determine patient eligibility. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has published hospice eligibility guidelines to support physicians in determining hospice eligibility. Disease specific guidelines exist for:
- Cancer
- ALS
- Dementia
- Heart Disease
- HIV
- Liver Disease
- Pulmonary Disease
- Renal Disease
- Stroke and Coma
In the absence of a specific disease listed above, hospice is appropriate for individuals with a prognosis of 6 months or less for general decline. Guidelines for general decline include recurring falls, hospitalizations, weight loss, reduced intake and output, recurrent infections, progressive wounds, and more.
Hospice Referral Facts
- Almost 70% of Americans prefer would prefer to die at home, if given a choice.1 Hospice care helps patients achieve that goal.
- Patients’ families share a favorable view of hospice care:
- More than 70% of families rate the care as “excellent” when patients received hospice care2
- Less than 50% of families rate the care as “excellent” when patients died in an institutional setting or with home health services2
- Timely hospice referral ensures your patients receive more care.
1Kaiser Family Foundation/The Economist Four-Country Survey of Aging and End-of-Life Medical Care (2017). Conducted March 30–May 29, 2016.
2Teno J.M., Clarridge B.R., et al. (2004). Family perspectives on end-of-life care at the last place of care. JAMA, 291(1):88–93.
Are You Ready to Make a Referral?
Determining the appropriate care for your patient can be a difficult task.
We have tools to help you decide.