Choosing hospice does not have to be a difficult decision. When a physician feels that there is nothing more that can be done to cure a life threatening illness or if the patient makes the decision not to pursue further treatment, hospice is the natural choice for comfort and quality end-of-life care. It allows the individual control over his care in a way that no other healthcare service can. If at any time during hospice enrollment the patient decides upon a different course of care, he can simply sign a revocation statement and proceed with  that option.

     The only requirements for hospice care are as follows:

• The patient's physician must agree that his illness is in its end-stage.
• The person must reside in one of the following areas while care is being administered: The counties of Wise, Lee, Scott, Dickenson, Buchanan, Russell, Tazewell, Washington and Smyth or the cities of Norton and Bristol, Virginia.

    The most common diagnosis refereed to Hospice are included below, although any disease that threatens to take a person's life within the span of 6 months can be a hospice diagnosis. Follow the links to learn more about each illness.

• Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia  including AIDS dementia, Parkinson's Disease, Subdural Hematoma
  http://www.alz.org/
   

• Advanced Heart Disease including Acute MI, Angina, Congestive Heart Failure, Aortic Stenosis, Diabetes W/ complications.
  http://www.americanheart.org
   

• Advanced Liver Disease
  http://www.liverfoundation.orgg
   

• Cancer
  http://www.cancer.org
   

• ALS
  http://www.alsa.org/
   

• Renal Failure 
  http://www.kidney.org/
   

• Pulmonary (lung) Disease including COPD, Asthma, Emphysema, Pneumonia, Pulmonary Fibrosis, TB, Pulmonary Edema.
  http://www.lungusa.org/
   

• HIV/AIDS 
  http://www.fda.gov/oashi/aids/hiv.html 
   

• Coma
   

• Decline in Clinical Status
   

• There may be circumstances when Hospice is appropriate, even if one of the above diagnoses is not present. Please call our office for a consultation.