d if required) following the patient's death for any family members or friends who wish to receive the service.The article The Continuum of Long term Care emphasizes "The philosophy of hospice is that terminally ill individuals should be allowed to maintain life during their final days in as natural and comfortable a setting as possible" (p. 198). The quality of life of the terminally ill patients relies heavily on the psychosocial skills of their health care team. The health care team consists of a physician, nurse, social worker, chaplain, home health aide and volunteers. The team develops an individual care plan which will provide an appropriate support system for the patient and their family up to and beyond the patient's death. Weekly meetings allow the team to focus on the changing needs of the patient and make adjustments to their plan. Hospice care can be received in a variety of organizational settings. The most preferred setting is of course within the patient's own home, but nursing homes, hospitals and long term care facilities are a few who can also provide hospice care. Hospice care is a covered benefit under Medicare and most private insurance companies. The regulating agencies that set the standards for hospices are Medicare, the National Hospice Organization, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) and state hospice agencies. I have found that the medical record content in a hospice program contains an extensive amount of identifying information in regards to the patient and their primary caregiver(s). All aspects of patient care are well documented and assure well-coordinated, continuous care. The medical record acts as a communication tool between the different team members and is used on a continuous basis throughout the patient's care.ConclusionAlthough there are many options other than those listed for health care after discharge from a hospital, The most important aspect for a person...
