Health Care Providers | Diagnostic Tools

When considering hospice care for your patients the following diagnostic tools are available to assist you in determining admission criterion and supportive documents needed.  All patients require a prognosis of 6-months or less, to the best of your clinical ability; should the disease run it natural course.

All cancer patients will qualify if the prognosis is 6-months or less

In addition when considering hospice services ask yourself…

• Are there life-limiting condition(s) affecting your patient?
• Has there been a progression of the disease?
• Has there been a need for frequent medical care?
• Is your patient dependent on help for most Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)?
• Has there been a weight loss greater than 10 percent over the last 6-months?
• (Also consider lab values such as serum albumin less than 2.5 g/dl; cholesterol less than 156 mg/dl; or Hematocrit (HCT) less than 41g/dl when evaluating your patient)

The following criterion provides a check-list per non-cancer diagnoses.  (All cancer patients will qualify if the prognosis is 6-months or less.)

                  Heart Disease — CHF

                  Lung Disease — COPD

                  Renal Disease

                  Liver Disease

                  Dementia (Alzheimer’s or Multi-infarct)

                  COMA and CVA

                  Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

                  HIV/AIDS

AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION:

Phone (209) 957-3888

Admin Fax (209) 922-0294

Hospice of San Joaquin
3888 Pacific Ave
Stockton CA 95204