The future of hospice care

Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care is proud to offer the first Open Access Hospice program in the greater Chicago area. Open Access is a hospice program that allows patients currently receiving medical treatments and/or experiencing intense psychosocial issues access to hospice services earlier; a blended model between curative and palliative care.

Who is eligible?

	Patients with an advanced illness who have limited prognosis
	Patients who continue to receive medical treatments such as: IV antibiotics TPN Ventilator support Cardiac drips Chest tubes Tube feedings Hemo/peritoneal dialysis for non-hospice diagnosis Palliative radiation Biological response modifiers i.e., Procrit®, Neupogen®, Epogen® Patients who need additional time to complete the discharge planning from the acute care setting
	Patients with complex psychosocial needs who have not: Made long term care plans Engaged in thorough acute care discharge planning Been able to arrange care giving Applied for Medicaid or have other financial needs

Benefits of Open Access Hospice

	Increases time for patients and families to engage in advance care planning and process issues related to the advanced illness while utilizing services
	Allows patients to receive hospice level services earlier, providing them with more assistance in care planning needs
	Supports strong collabortaive relationships with the referral source during difficult communications with patients and families
	Starts supportive care or hospice while patients are making the transition from curative to palliative care
	Helps patients and families understand futile care and allows them to request discontinuation of measures (Benefit vs. Burden)
	Reduces length of stay in an acute care setting

When to refer a patient

When patients are carrying the above-mentioned interventions but with a limited prognosis. Each patient is evaluated on a case-by-case basis

Who pays for Open Access

Open Access is covered under the Medicare hospice benefit. Coverage under a managed care contract is negotiated on a case-by-case basis.