Hospice Admission Note Template

Discover a comprehensive guide to hospice admissions notes and checklists. Ensure accurate documentation, streamline the admission process, and provide compassionate end-of-life care.

By Harriet Murray on Apr 08, 2024.

Fact Checked by Ericka Pingol.

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What is hospice admission documentation?

A hospice admissions document is a comprehensive and critical form used when a patient is admitted into a hospice program. It serves as a foundational record that outlines essential information, establishes care preferences, and initiates the provision of end-of-life care services.

This document encompasses multifaceted details about the patient's medical history, current health status, and preferences for care during their final phase of life. It includes personal information such as the patient's name, address, contact details, and demographic data. Additionally, it delves into the patient's medical background, detailing diagnoses, ongoing treatments, medications, and any prior hospitalizations or surgeries.

The admissions document outlines the patient's goals and wishes concerning their end-of-life care. This section encompasses the patient's preferences for pain management, symptom control, spiritual or emotional support, and their choices regarding life-sustaining treatments like resuscitation or artificial nutrition. This section ensures that care aligns with the patient's values, beliefs, and desires, promoting a dignified and comfortable end-of-life experience.

Moreover, the admissions document involves the patient's acknowledgment and consent to hospice care, detailing the services provided by the hospice team, the rights and responsibilities of the patient and their family, and any financial considerations or insurance coverage related to hospice care.

Completing this document typically involves collaboration between the patient, their family members or designated healthcare proxies, and the hospice team, including nurses, social workers, and medical professionals. The process may entail discussions, explanations, and decision-making regarding the goals and expectations of hospice care.

The admissions document is a cornerstone for initiating personalized, compassionate, patient-centered care in hospice. It ensures that care providers comprehensively understand the patient's medical condition, personal preferences, and care goals, facilitating the delivery of supportive and comforting end-of-life care tailored to the individual's needs and wishes.

Printable Hospice Admission Checklist Template

Download this Hospice Admission Checklist Template to ensure accurate documentation.

The importance of using an admission template

Using an admissions template in hospice care is important in ensuring consistency, accuracy, and comprehensive documentation during the admission process.

Standardized information gathering

An admissions template provides a structured format for collecting essential information about the patient's medical history, current health status, and preferences for end-of-life care. This standardized approach ensures that critical details are not overlooked and that all necessary information is systematically documented.

Efficiency and time-saving

Templates streamline the admissions process, allowing healthcare professionals to gather pertinent information efficiently. This saves time during the admission procedure, enabling quicker access to crucial details for immediate care planning and implementation.

Consistency in documentation

Using a template ensures uniformity in recording patient information across different admissions. Consistent documentation aids in the continuity of care, allowing multiple care providers within the hospice team to access standardized and organized information about the patient.

Legal and regulatory compliance

Admissions templates often incorporate regulatory requirements and legal aspects, ensuring that necessary consents, disclosures, and documentation related to hospice care, patient rights, and financial considerations are properly recorded and addressed.

Facilitating communication and collaboration

Templates promote effective communication among healthcare professionals, the patient, and their families. By providing a standardized format, they facilitate clearer and more cohesive exchanges, ensuring that all parties are on the same page regarding the patient's condition, preferences, and care plan.

Enhancing quality of care

Accurate and comprehensive documentation through an admissions template supports informed decision-making, personalized care planning, and the provision of patient-centered care. It ensures that the care provided aligns with the patient's wishes, improving the quality of their end-of-life experience.

The different components of hospice admission paperwork

Hospice admissions paperwork comprises various essential components designed to gather comprehensive information, establish care preferences, and initiate end-of-life care services for patients. This may be written in collaboration with a hospice nurse and a wider care team, focusing on patient-centered care. These components typically include:

  • Patient information: Demographic details such as the patient's name, address, contact information, date of birth, and identification numbers.
  • Medical history: Comprehensive information about the patient's medical background, including diagnoses, ongoing treatments, surgeries, hospitalizations, and current medications.
  • Primary care physician details: Contact information and collaboration details regarding the patient's primary care physician or referring healthcare provider.
  • End-of-life care preferences: Documentation of the patient's preferences and directives regarding end-of-life care, including pain management, symptom control, resuscitation preferences, spiritual or emotional support, and desired interventions.
  • Consent and acknowledgment: Confirmation of the patient's consent to hospice care, understanding of services provided, rights and responsibilities, insurance coverage or financial considerations, and acknowledgment of the hospice program's policies and procedures.
  • Family or caregiver involvement: Information regarding family members, designated healthcare proxies, or caregivers involved in the patient's care and decision-making process. This helps to ensure the best care possible for the hospice patient and mitigates family discrepancies.
  • Goals and expectations: Collaboratively established goals and expectations for hospice patient care, addressing the patient's needs, desires, and desired outcomes during their end-of-life journey.
  • Documentation of assessments: Initial assessments are conducted by the hospice care team, detailing the patient's physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs.
  • Legal and regulatory documents: Inclusion of legal documents such as advance directives, healthcare power of attorney, living wills, or other legal forms pertinent to end-of-life care and decision-making.
  • Financial and insurance Information: Details related to insurance coverage, billing information, and financial considerations associated with hospice services.

How does this note template work?

The admissions process for hospice care can be lengthy and requires thorough detail to ensure all aspects of care are discussed and can be met by both the facility and the individual. Below are the steps involved in creating a viable admissions note:

Step one: Gather your resources

Admissions checklists and notes for hospice patients are a valuable resource and essential to keep on hand. Make sure that you have a copy of the free printable PDF when the need arises by either clicking the “Download Template” or “Use Template” button or by searching “Hospice Admission Note Template” on Carepatron’s template library’s search bar on the website or app.

Step two: Gather information

Begin by collecting information about the patient. This includes their medical history, current medications, care needs, preferences, and any legal or financial documents relevant to their care.

Step three: Identify key categories

Outline the different categories or sections that need consideration within the hospice documentation. This often includes medical information, personal care needs, legal and financial aspects, facility amenities, and resident preferences.

Step four: Consult resources

Utilize resources such as end-of-life admission guidelines, healthcare facility checklists, and regulatory requirements to ensure the checklist encompasses all essential areas.

Step five: Medical assessment

Include items related to the patient's medical needs and comfort treatment. This involves details about medical conditions, allergies, required medications, and any treatments or therapies the patient requires to attain their desired quality of life.

Step six: Personal care needs

Document the patient's daily living requirements, such as bathing, dressing, mobility assistance, dietary needs, and any specific care instructions.

Step seven: Legal and financial documentation

Include a section for filling out legal paperwork, insurance coverage verification, financial considerations, and advance directives, ensuring all necessary legal documents are in place.

Step eight: Safely store the documentation

After reviewing the admissions notes and creating a viable and individualized plan for the patient, you need to secure the plan so that access is only granted to relevant parties. 

Ensure this through Carepatrons HIPAA-compliant free patient records software. Here, all relevant medical records can be safely stored and collated for ease and security. 

Hospice Admission Checklist Template example (sample)

Eager to utilize this essential care planning tool? Acquire a free, downloadable, and printable Hospice Admission Note Template PDF that comes pre-filled with fictional data to help you confidently track your patient's needs or act as an educational tool. 

Our crafted sample template is designed to assist you in efficiently utilizing the chart and evaluating the care goals for patients in hospice-level care. It includes dedicated sections for evaluation, interventions, and symptom tracking. 

Secure your copy by previewing the sample below or clicking the "Download Example PDF" button.

Download this free Hospice Admission Checklist Template example here:

Hospice Admission Checklist Template example (sample)

Why use Carepatron as your hospice documentation software?

Carepatron stands out as a comprehensive hospice documentation app due to its user-friendly interface and multifaceted functionalities. Its intuitive design simplifies the admission process by providing a structured framework to gather and organize essential information seamlessly. The app's versatility accommodates various aspects of hospice admission, including clinical documentation, personal care needs assessment, legal paperwork review, and facility evaluation.

One of its significant advantages lies in its adaptability to individual needs. Carepatron allows customization to tailor the notes according to specific requirements, ensuring that every aspect relevant to the resident's admission is covered. This flexibility ensures personalized hospice documentation, ensuring quality care that aligns precisely with the resident's unique needs and preferences.

Carepatron is a centralized platform for collaboration, sharing, and communication among family members, healthcare professionals, and hospice care staff. It facilitates streamlined communication by allowing multiple stakeholders to access and update the document in real-time through patient portal software. This fosters transparency and ensures that everyone involved is well-informed and on the same page regarding the patient's needs and preferences.

Carepatron's adherence to security and privacy standards ensures the confidentiality of sensitive information. The app's robust security measures comply with global security requirements, including HIPAA, GDPR, and HITRUST. Safeguarding personal and medical data is paramount to Carepatron and helps instill trust and confidence in users regarding protecting their information.

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What information should be included in a hospice admissions note?
What information should be included in a hospice admissions note?

Commonly asked questions

What information should be included in a hospice admissions note?

A hospice visit and admissions note typically includes essential details such as the patient's demographic information, medical history, current diagnoses, medications, end-of-life care preferences, consents, assessments, insurance information, and acknowledgments of hospice program policies.

Who completes the hospice admissions note, and when is it filled out?

Healthcare professionals typically complete hospice admissions notes upon patients' admission to the hospice program. The hospice interdisciplinary team members, such as nurses, physicians, or social workers, gather and document the necessary information during the admission process.

Can changes be made to the hospice admissions note after completion?

Yes, modifications or additions to the hospice admissions note can be made if necessary. Any changes or updates in the patient's condition, care preferences, or legal documents can be documented through amendments to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information.

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