|
Hospice About Mercy hospice
"I will turn their
mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of
sorrow." Jeremiah 30:13
Mercy Hospice affirms life. It embraces the philosophy
that death is not a medical failure, but part of life - an
opportunity to appreciate the fullness of time.
Hospice is not a place, but a
concept of care that allows a terminal illness to follow its natural
course. The focus is on caring, not curing, and providing quality of
life.
What is Mercy Hospice?
Mercy Hospice was established in
1990, one of the first hospice programs in central Oklahoma, as a natural extension
of the ministries
of the Sisters of Mercy. It gives patients the
opportunity to choose to die at home, among family and friends, or in a
nursing home that hospice serves.
How can patients
access Mercy Hospice Services?
A physician must certify that a
patient is terminally ill. Hospice can provide information at the request of
patient and or family by calling Mercy Hospice office at 486-8600.
Who is eligible for
hospice care?
For a patient to be admitted to
the Mercy Hospice program, four basic criteria must be met:
-
Both the primary physician and
the hospice medical director must certify that the patient has a
prognosis of six months or less to live
-
The patient must live within
an approximate 50-mile radius of Mercy Health Center
-
The patient must be ready to
accept palliative (comfort) care only
-
The patient or patient
representative must sign a statement selecting Mercy Hospice
Individuals served by Mercy
Hospice do not have to be patients of Mercy Health Center or patients of a
Mercy physician.
Mercy Hospice accepts patients
regardless of age, sex, race, creed or ability to pay.
Who pays for the
hospice services?
Medicare or private insurance
pays for most patients' hospice care. Mercy Hospice also accepts patients
who do not have the ability to pay.
|
