26 Sep Questions to Ask a Hospice Provider Before Making Your Choice

When it comes to selecting a hospice provider, you have choices. Hospital social workers, staff at your doctor’s office, a member of the clergy or other concerned parties can make a referral to a hospice agency on your behalf or on behalf of your loved one, but the choice in hospice provider is ultimately yours or your loved one’s.

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That decision can be a challenging one to make—especially when you consider the number of providers serving this area. So how do you know which hospice provider is right for you and your family? There are several things to consider—from the exchange you have with the hospice team member who meets with you to the professionalism they exude. Consider also their timeliness in meeting you, their eagerness to provide you with answers and a level of comfort and their compassion in answering your questions.

In order to get a clear understanding about a particular hospice provider, you’ll need to dig deeper and ask important questions. And you’ll want to be sure you understand the answers you’re given and that you’re comfortable with those answers and with how your questions and concerns are addressed. You should come away from the interview with far more answers than questions.

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Here is a list of questions to get you started when you’re interviewing hospice providers. Add to the list as you think of other things you want to know about the provider.

How close are the hospice nurses to your (or your loved one’s) home—whether that’s a private residence, an assisted living facility, a nursing facility, etc.?

It’s important that the nurses providing care are within a reasonably close proximity to your home. This has nothing to do with the location of the hospice office. Your home may be near an agency’s office, but that doesn’t guarantee that a nurse will be reasonably close to you. It’s helpful to have nurses close to your home or the home of your loved one in the event an urgent need arises. You don’t want to have to wait hours for a nurse to reach you or your loved one.

What coverage is there at night and on the weekends and will a nurse be available to us at those times?

Be sure to ask the hospice provider what staff is available after hours—at night and on the weekends. Does the agency provide on-call nursing staff during those times?

Does the hospice provider have a good relationship/rapport with a pharmacy?

If the provider has a good relationship with a pharmacy, chances are that you’ll have fewer issues (if any) when getting prescriptions filled and delivered.

What types of medical professionals are employed by the provider?

Hospices employ professionals across several disciplines: doctors who oversee plans of care for patients, nurses and nurses’ aides who provide hands-on patient care, social workers who provide counseling and offer resources, chaplains who offer spiritual counseling and guidance and physical, occupational and speech therapists. Hospice providers also utilize a staff of hospice volunteers.

Can my primary care doctor follow me (my loved one) while hospice services are being rendered?

Even though the hospice provider employs a medical director who oversees the clinical care of the provider’s patients, those patients’ primary care physicians can follow the care of the patients as well. Many patients on hospice service still have their own doctors participate in their care.

Can we be involved in the care of our loved one?

Patients and their families are encouraged to be a part of the patient’s plan of care. One of the hallmarks of the philosophy of hospice care is the involvement of the patient and/or his family members in the patient’s care.

Who is the doctor that oversees the care of the provider’s patients?

It’s a good idea to ask questions about the physician who will be overseeing the hospice plan of care for you or your loved one. Ask for the physician’s name and about his specialties and credentials, etc. The physician will be playing a vital role in overseeing care, and you should feel comfortable with him and his expertise.

Does the hospice provider offer any special services to patients and their families?

Because of guidelines set forth by Medicare, there are services that every hospice provider in the country must offer. But is there anything that sets the provider apart from others? Are there special programs or services offered by the agency that go above and beyond the federal requirements?

How often will a nurse visit?

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Ask about the frequency of visits by the nursing staff. What can you expect from nursing staff during those visits? Will there be a specific nurse and nurse aide assigned to you or will you meet a different nurse and aide each visit? And will the nurse come on the same days each week (i.e., Monday, Wednesday, Friday, etc.)? What will the nurse do during those visits, and how long should I expect the visits to last?