Hospice Criteria: Determining That Time Is Limited

Chapter 5 introduces the hospice criteria used to determine when hospice care can be considered a reasonable treatment option for the common terminal diagnoses discussed in Chap. 4 . The chapter highlights the importance of healthcare providers asking patients about their end-of-life preferences in advance to provide them with the care they desire. Additionally, the chapter emphasizes the role of hospice care in enabling patients to spend their final days comfortably at home, surrounded by their loved ones. The author discusses the underutilization of hospice care, the lack of use and understanding of hospice criteria by the medical community, and the importance of educating and training healthcare providers on hospice eligibility guidelines to improve patient-centered care.