Yes. Hospice patients have the same patient rights as any other patient, one of which is to choose his or her attending physician. If the patient chooses to keep his own doctor, the hospice team will work with that physician, consulting about changes to the plan of care and reporting any changes in condition. Otherwise, the patient may choose to have an Arcy Hospice doctor oversee his or her care.
In either case, the role of the physician is the same. While the plan of care is under the direction of a physician, the primary point of contact is the hospice nurse. The nurse, as well as the aide, social worker, chaplain and, when requested, volunteer companion are the eyes and ears for the physician, reporting any needs or changes in condition. In addition to frequent phone conversations, the doctor meets with the hospice care team every two weeks. At each meeting, the team shares current information and has a chance to update the plan of care. Sometimes, it is decided that more visits are needed or medications need to be changed.
At admission, the physician certifies that the patient is appropriate for hospice care. To be appropriate, a hospice patient has a life-limiting diagnosis and if the disease takes its normal course, the patient will most likely have six months or less to live. Then, after the first 90 days, the physician re-certifies that the patient is still appropriate for hospice, and does the same after the second 90 days. After that, the time frame shortens, and the certification periods become 60 days apart. As long as the patient continues to meet criteria and the physician continues to certify eligibility, the patient stays on hospice care. This is how some patients stay on hospice care over six months.
Arcy currently has three physicians on staff, Dr. Sears, Dr. Kremer and Dr. Beste, each heading a care team. We draw upon their many years of experience and appreciate their compassion and dedication to this work.
My name is Jimmie Stapleton. I am the founder and CEO of Arcy Healthcare. Arcy Healthcare includes Arcy Hospice, Arcy Supportive Care, MaximaCare Home Health and Arcy at Home.
Arcy Hospice was opened in 2007 to provide care and support for individuals and families facing a life limiting illness. It was established after my wife Ellen, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, had completed her chemo and radiation therapies. At that time, things were looking positive, and we wanted to do something for our community that had been so supportive of our family during her treatments. Unfortunately, the cancer returned a few years later, and she subsequently passed away under our care in 2010.
In the years that followed, I began to see the need to provide the same level of excellent care to patients across the continuum of care. Therefore, we have added a home health division (MaximaCare Home Health), a palliative care division (Arcy Supportive Care), and a home care division, (Arcy at Home). With the addition of these divisions, we can meet most of the post-acute care needs for you and your family in your home.
I started Arcy Hospice with my wife as my motivation to provide exceptional care and support in the patient’s home, where they are surrounded by family and where they feel most comfortable. I’m proud to say that our staff provides some of the best in home care in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.
Please let us know if we can enrich the quality of life for you or a loved one.
Sincerely,
Jimmie Stapleton – Founder and CEO
Arcy Healthcare
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