Patient Care

Levels of Care

ViaQuest Hospice ensures the continuity of care in any residential setting, including:

Home Care

Patients received routine hospice care in their place of residence. This may be a private residence, personal care home, assisted living or skilled facility. The patient’s family or caregiver works with our staff and the referring physician to maintain the patient in a comfortable and safe environment.

Continuous Home Care

During a brief period of medical crisis, an individual may receive continuous care in the home. This care is provided predominately by hospice nurses, but may include other personnel or volunteers. Patient crisis is defined as uncontrolled pain or symptoms, which, without continuous care, would require the patient to be hospitalized. The RN and MD must approve continuous nursing care.

Inpatient Respite Care

Respite is used in the event that the primary caregiver is temporarily unable to provide care in the home. The patient will be admitted for a short-term stay (up to five days) to a skilled nursing facility that is contracted with ViaQuest Hospice.

Inpatient General Care

If there is a change in the patient’s physical condition that cannot be managed in the home setting, the patient may require care in an approved hospital or nursing home. This care must be arranged by the nurse in consultation with the attending physician, the patient and the family.

Patient Eligibility

In order to receive ViaQuest Hospice services, the patient must:

• Be referred by an attending physician
• Have the physician’s verification at the time of referral that the patient has an incurable illness and a life expectancy of six months or less, if the disease runs its normal course.
• Have the availability of a primary caregiver, when the patient’s condition necessitates 24-hour care. The primary caregiver may be a family member, friend, paid employee, nursing home (under special arrangement) or other person or facility.
• Have Medicare part A, the Medical Assistance Hospice Benefit, or a hospice benefit with a third-party insurer.