Hospice Philosophy
Tip Hospice in Missouri affirm's the belief that patients with a terminal illness can live fully and be hopeful. Our Hospice program affirms life and does not hasten nor postpone death. The core value of Hospice as a service of end-of-life care to patients and their families is found in our deep sense of caring and commitment.

Focusing on the quality of life, our medically-directed hospice team seeks to manage the pain and symptoms that are part of a terminal illness. A holistic approach is emphasized so that spiritual, psycho-social, physical and emotional needs of the patient and the family are addressed. All care is directed towards the preservation of dignity, integrity and patient autonomy.

The TIP Hospice teams work together with our patients' physicians to provide physical, emotional and spiritual care for patients and their families.

Hospice Available Staff & Resources

The Illinois staff of the VNA-TIP Hospice plus the Missouri staff of theTIPHospiceincludes many persons dedicated to serving the unique needs of the terminal patient.

There are on-call Registered Nurses (RN's) to cover the 22-county region.

The Hospice Director also performs Hospice In-Services at retirement communities and nursing homes, participates in Health Fairs, and facilitates Hospice Memorials and Support Groups.

There are also Hospice Chaplains available to visit with patients and families and assist them with their spiritual needs. The Chaplains also hold Memorial Services and perform bereavement visits with family and friends of Hospice patients.

In addition, there are Social Workers and Volunteers who also visit with patients and families.All members of the hospice team are commited to the quality of life for the patient.

Hospice Myths and Facts

Myth	Fact
Medicare provides only 6 months of hospice care, so enrollment should be delayed as long as possible.	Medicare law does not time limit the hospice benefit, but Medicare regulations and their interpretations often discourage longer lengths of stay. Patients may enroll when their physician and the hospice medical director judge that the illness is terminal, with an estimated life expectancy of 6 months or less.
All hospice care is the same.	Even in the community, hospices may vary markedly; especially in the kinds of treatment patients can receive.
Hospice means giving up hope. Hospice workers help people die.	Hospice workers help people revise what they may hope for and help them achieve comfort when death is inevitable. They do nothing to hasten or prevent death.
Hospice is useful only for heavy-duty pain medications.	Hospice care is designed to provide not only medical care but also social, psychological, and spiritual support given by an interdisciplinary team that include a nurse, social worker, chaplain, and other professionals.
You can't keep your own doctor on admission to hospice.	Most hospices establish working relationships with a wide base of referring physicians so that patients can keep their own doctors on admission to hospice care.
Hospice is only for cancer patients.	Individuals who die from cancer are more likely to choose hospice care than are those who die from other conditions, but hospice care is now available to an increasing number of terminally ill patients with non-cancer diagnoses, such as congestive heart failure and chronic lung disease.
Hospice is only for the sick family member.	Hospice is designed to support all family members during the illness and to offer at least 1 year of bereavement support after death.
Hospice is a place, so you must leave home to receive hospice.	In America, most hospice care is delivered in the home, though inpatient care is generally available (in hospitals, nursing homes, and special settings) to serve those with no at-home caregiver, and those whose total care is overwhelming to families.
Hospice is expensive.	In general hospice costs less than hospital or nursing home care and saves significant money for Medicare.

Hospice Home Health vs. Hospice Care

	Home Health	Hospice
Criteria	Patient has a medially skilled need, usually following an acute hospitalization.	Patient has a life-threatening illness and is seeking a palliative approach to care. No skilled need required. Care may begin at anytime from any setting.
Goal	Discharge after medical improvement.	Comfortable living and peaceful death.
Course	Patient is very ill at onset of care and condition gradually improves.	Patient may be quite stable at onset of care with few, if any, skilled needs and condition gradually declines.
Unit of Care	The patient.	The patient and their family - "family" is defined by the patient.
Providers of Care	Individual professionals as indicated by the patient's specific skilled needs.	An interdisciplinary team comprised of a variety of healthcare professionals and volunteers. The team provides total case management across the patient's full range of care needs.
Emergency Care (off hours)	A phone message instructs the patient to call 911 if there is a medical emergency.	A comprehensive on-call system available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week that acts as an alternative to calling 911.
Focus of Care	Usually medically directed towards improving physical health and ultimately achieving self-care.	Palliative care (comfort) when cure is no longer possible. Care plans address the physical, psycho-social, and spiritual needs of the patient and family.
Continuity of Care	Does not continue in other settings such as acute care.	The interdisciplinary care planning continues in any care setting, including an acute level of care.
Scope of Services	Limited to skilled needs.	Offers many extra services such as bereavement care, support groups and volunteer help.
Staff Training	Traditional - broad scope.	Specialized training in palliative care for the terminally ill.
Reimbursement	Typically, fee per visit or episodically (PPS).	Typically per diem by level of care. The Medicare levels of care are: routine home care, inpatient respite care, continuous care, and acute inpatient care. The per diem covers cost not typically paid for on a per visit basis: Chaplain services Counseling /social work for the family unit Interdisciplinary team Volunteers (and the administrative costs associated with this service) Comprehensive on-call system during "off" hours Interdisciplinary team meetings Specialty consultation and care planning by the hospice medical director Bereavement care for the patient's family up to 13 months after the patient's death

Hospice Insurance Accepted

· Pekin Insurance
· CorVel Corporation
· Labor Health Institute
· Medical Services Management
· Progressive Medical, Inc.
· United HealthCare of the Midwest
· HealthLink
· V A Fee Base

Hospice Service Area & Office Locations

Illinois Licensed Counties
VNA-TIP Hospice serves the following counties in IL:

Alexander	Marion
Clay	Massac
Clinton	Perry
Edwards	Pulaski
Franklin	Union
Hamilton	Wabash
Jackson	Washington
Jefferson	Wayne
Bond	Christian
Fayette	Gallatin
Green	Hardin
Jersey	Lawrence
Macoupin	Monroe
Montgomery	Morgan
Pope	Randolph
Richland	Saline
Sangamon	St. Clair
Johnson	Williamson
Madison	White