Hospice Concepts

Book excerpt: A comprehensive yet succinct overview of hospice care. The book covers everything from hospice philosophy to Medicare regulations, from criteria for determining prognosis to dealing with grief and bereavement. Recommendations focus on identifying and limiting futile treatments; on pursuing opportunities to better understand the pathophysiology of physical and emotional symptoms in patients with life-threatening illness; and on providing reliable, effective, and humane care at this point in the normal cycle of life. Ideal for orientation of new hospice or palliative care staff. The book is useful for self-study and group training or as a text for related college courses. Chapter tests and answer keys are included in two appendixes.