Hospice:
Shatter 7 Top Myths Giving Hospice A Bad Rep
Published on Wed Sep 23, 2009
Use this list to steer your community education. The good news about ever-persistent hospice myths is that information delivered in the right way can prove to be a powerful antidote. Check out what hospice experts identify as some of the top misconceptions about hospice and how they have learned to counter them: Myth #1: People die very soon after going on hospice. Reality: "Some people believe people are doing fine until hospice comes in and then they die shortly thereafter," says Rachel Schmidt, with Healthcare Marketing & Strategies in Richmond, Va. "The reason for that is the high percentage of late referrals," she says. Hospice nurse Noelle Berardi points out that some patients get better on hospice and, in some cases, even end up coming off the benefit. "That can happen when, for example, someone with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [as the terminal diagnosis] hasn't been able to pay for [...]