Healthcare Providers

When to make a referral

Patients are eligible for hospice care when they have an advanced illness and a life expectancy of 6 months or less, as determined by a physician. They also must desire hospice care, which stresses comfort and pain management over disease-modifying therapies.

At the end of six months, the patient will be reassessed to determine if hospice is still appropriate considering the progress of the disease.

If you are unsure about life expectancy, our physicians are available for consults.

A patient who might be eligible for and benefit from hospice care may demonstrate some of these symptoms:

• Unplanned weight loss
• Excessive sleeping throughout the day
• Multiple hospital visit/stays in the past six months
• Excessive swelling of the legs and ankles, even when feet are propped up
• Difficulty breathing, even at rest or with increased oxygen levels
• Weakness during activities of daily living
• Frequent changes in medications
• Pain that is poorly controlled
• Loss of interest in activities
• Not “bouncing back” after an illness
• Not responding to current treatments or therapy
• Loss of appetite
• Confusion
• Wounds that are not healing
• Loss of speech
• Infections
• Not sleeping through the night due to pain, shortness of breath or other symptoms

How to Make a Referral

Making a referral is simple: Please call us at 850-878-5310 (Please remember to dial the area code even when calling local) or complete the form below. We will follow up promptly. Thank you for entrusting the care of your patient to us.