Healthcare Professionals

Hospice care can offer many benefits to patients with advanced, progressive illnesses. If you believe that a patient with a terminal illness has a life expectancy that could be measured in months, rather than years, hospice may be an excellent option.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) urges early referrals of terminally ill patients for hospice care, noting:

  • Prognoses do not have to be certain, as some end-stage conditions have unpredictable courses
  • Patients may initially improve in hospice
  • Patients may be in hospice longer than six months

Resources for healthcare professionals include details on referring a patient, physician billing, patient eligibility, pain management, end-stage indicators, how to have end-of-life conversations, and more. This includes information about introducing advance care planning and the resources available for it, as well as information specific to certain diseases, such as dementia. Please contact Montgomery Hospice and Prince George’s Hospice if you have any clinical questions about one of these hospice topics.

Direct Admissions Referral Line: 301-637-1888 (8:30 am to 4:30 pm, 7 days a week)
Or, call 301-921-4400 any time, any day.