Back to Hospice Basics: What You Need to Know About On Call

On-call, after hours, 24/7 services - no matter what you call it, hospice care is available to patients and caregivers every hour of every day. Regardless of the day of the week, whether it’s a holiday, or the office is closed, a member of the hospice team is accessible all the time. Some hospice agencies have answering services or triage teams, but the final result of a call is connection with a nurse. If another discipline is needed, that’s going to be coordinated by the agency. No question or concern is dumb. Hospice agencies offer this service to make sure patients and caregivers feel comfortable in their homes while experiencing the end of a life.  Here are some of the reasons a caregiver or patient might want to contact the hospice team when the office is closed.

• The patient has had a change in condition, and is showing different symptoms.
• Your person (the patient) has died. 
• There’s a question about medications. 
• A piece of critical equipment isn’t working (oxygen, BiPap, electric hospital bed, air mattress or overlay).
• There are spiritual or faith needs, and the chaplain’s (or social worker’s) support is needed.  
• The patient has had a fall and there’s an injury. 

You can find the Approaching Death Support Kit at bkbooks.com.

Find all of Barbara Karnes’ products and resources at bkbooks.com.

Read Barbara’s blog at bkbooks.com.

Connect with Barbara Karnes on Facebook IG LinkedIn Twitter (X)  YouTube

Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. Whether you want to connect by phone or video, you can book a FREE 30-Minute Hospice Navigation Session, or a more in-depth 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95. If you need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, we’re here to answer your questions. A 60-Minute Navigation Session by video call allows up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time. We believe you deserve to have good hospice care. Book your session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.  

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer

Website: theheartofhospice.com

Social media: Facebook  Twitter  Instagram LinkedIn

Email: [e-mail]

Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to [e-mail].

Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice at