What is Hospice?

The Hospice program is designed to assist with the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their families when the disease cannot be cured. The program exists to help our patients live in a comfortable, pain-free manner and to ease the dying process.

Hospice care is provided primarily at home or in a nursing home setting, although inpatient care is also available as needed.

Services Provided by BAPTIST HEALTH Hospice

•  Assistance with pain/symptom management
  
•  Professional nursing care on a regular basis; assistance is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  
•  Home health aide and homemaker services
  
•  Counseling for individuals and families
  
•  Medical social work services to link families' financial, legal and social resources as needed
  
•  Spiritual help from Hospice chaplains
  
•  Dietary guidance
  
•  Physical, occupational and speech therapies
  
•  Volunteer services to offer respite and assistance to the family
  
•  Bereavement services
  
•  Short-term inpatient care for pain/symptom management or for family respite
  
•  Coping With Life After Loss

One of the services provided by Baptist Hospice is Grief Support Groups to assist surviving family members in coping with their loss. These groups are open to anyone desiring to participate. They meet the third Tuesday of every month at 12:00 noon. The meetings are held at BAPTIST HEALTH Medical Center-Little Rock in the Gilbreath Conference Center (on the ground floor), and at BAPTIST HEALTH Medical Center-North Little Rock in the conference room. For more information about support groups, please call the Hospice office at 202-7474.

Community Bereavement Support Resources

Other support groups called "Life After Loss" are available in the community. To register for these groups or for a time and location nearest you, please call the American Cancer Society at 501-603-5207.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hospice only for cancer patients?

No. Hospice care is available to any person with a terminal disease process. Some of the disease processes include:

•  End stage Alzheimer's
  
•  ALS
  
•  End stage cardiovascular disease
  
•  End stage CVA (stroke)
  
•  End stage pulmonary disease
  
•  End stage renal disease
  
•  End stage dementia
  
•  End stage liver disease

Is Hospice covered by my insurance?

In most cases, yes. Hospice is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance policies.

What if I have no insurance (or my insurance doesn't cover Hospice)?

The care and services provided by Hospice are available to anyone who meets Hospice criteria, regardless of ability to pay.

Can you only receive Hospice care for a 6-month period?

No. The Medicare and Medicaid Hospice benefit is actually indefinite. As long as the patient meets the criteria, they can continue to receive the care. In some cases, private insurance policies have limitations on hospice coverage. However, once admitted to Hospice we will continue providing care even if the insurance benefits are exhausted.

Does Hospice mean "giving up"?

Not at all. Hospice means having individualized care focusing on pain and symptom management and quality of life.

Is it true that you cannot go back to the hospital once you are admitted to Hospice?

No. Inpatient care is a part of the Hospice benefit. A patient can return to the hospital if pain or symptoms cannot be controlled well at home. The Hospice RN helps with this process.