Referral Information For Healthcare Professionals

Whether the diagnosis is dementia, heart failure, COPD, failure to thrive, or cancer, Hospice of Hamilton has the experience and resources to partner with you in a way that yields the best possible care plan for your patient or resident.

If you are considering a referral to Hospice of Hamilton, please know that we value and appreciate your trust, confidence and partnership. Our goal is to partner with you in a way that provides the very best care and outcome for your patient, resident or client.

IF YOUR PATIENT, RESIDENT OR CLIENT IS NOT A CANCER PATIENT....... the general guidelines for admission to Hospice of Hamilton are as follows (for Non-cancer Diagnosis):

1. The patient has a life-limiting condition (ask yourself: “would I be surprised if this person died in the next 6 months?”)
2. Patient / family has been informed that condition is life-limiting
3. Patient / family elect palliation of symptoms vs. futile, aggressive medical care
4. There is documentation of the clinical progression of the disease (i.e. serial physician assessment, lab studies, multiple ER visits, in-patient hospitalizations, home health nursing assessments, etc.)
5. There is or has been a recent decline in functional status
6. Nutrition status has been impaired as evidenced by unintentional, progressive weight loss of 10% over past 6 months and/or serum albumin less than 2.5 gm/dl

IF YOUR PATIENT, RESIDENT OR CLIENT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER....... the general guidelines for admission to Hospice of Hamilton are as follows:

1. The patient has a life-limiting condition (ask yourself: “would I be surprised if this person died in the next 6 months?”)
2. Patient / family has been informed that condition is life-limiting Additionally, referrals to Hospice of Hamilton for cancer diagnosis should occur when the decision has been made to stop aggressive treatment.