The Hospice Referral Process

VITAS Healthcare is your specialist in end-of-life care. Our hospice teams are trained:

• To understand patients and families as they cope with advanced illness
• To manage healthcare transitions that align with patient goals, wishes and values
• To help clinicians and referral sources understand hospice eligibility guidelines and determine the ideal timing for hospice referrals so patients and families can take advantage of the full range and benefits of hospice care

Clinicians make hospice referrals. VITAS makes the process simple.

How to Refer a Patient to Hospice

We make hospice referrals simple and secure, whether by phone, online or our mobile app for clinicians. You can ask VITAS to contact you when and how is most convenient for you. We provide guidelines that help you determine hospice eligibility with confidence.

Choose the method that works best for you:

• From our hospice referral app. Hospice referrals are easy, secure and seamless via mobile form or face sheet capture, both of which result in an in-app confirmation from VITAS. Rely on the app (iOS and Android) for disease-specific guidelines and interactive assessment tools to determine eligibility. Download the VITAS app now, personalize it based on your role and begin referring patients immediately.
• With our online hospice referral form. Our secure hospice referral form asks you to identify yourself and provide information about the patient, with contact information.
• Call VITAS at 855.336.1418 to refer a hospice-eligible patient. A VITAS hospice admissions professional will answer your call at any time of the day or night, 365 days a year. You’ll be asked to provide your identification information along with the patient’s first and last name, phone number and city, state and ZIP code.

Patients with advanced illness and their families understand the value of time. Make sure that a timely, well-informed hospice referral gives them time when they need it most.

Hospice Referral Facts

Nearly 70% of Americans indicate they would prefer to die at home, if given a choice.¹ Hospice care can help patients achieve that goal at end of life.

Patients' families share a favorable view of hospice care:

• More than 70% of families rate the care as "excellent" when patients received hospice care²
• Less than 50% of families rate the care as "excellent" when patients died in an institutional setting or with home health services²

One in five people reported that someone in their household had an experience with hospice care in the past year.2 Of those:

• 87% said they have a positive opinion of hospice³
• 58% who had a very positive opinion³

Timely hospice referral ensures your patients can receive more care with the VITAS Care model, ensuring we coordinate with your practice and keep the symptoms of their disease managed.

¹Kaiser Family Foundation/The Economist Four-Country Survey of Aging and End-of-Life Medical Care (2017). Conducted March 30–May 29, 2016.

²Teno J.M., Clarridge B.R., et al. (2004). Family perspectives on end-of-life care at the last place of care. JAMA, 291(1):88–93.

³Hamel, L., Wu, B., and Brodie, M. (2017). Views and experiences with end-of-life medical care in the U.S. The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Menlo Park, CA.