Attending Physician Responsibilities in Hospice Care
At Nineveh Hospice, we value the essential role that attending physicians play in supporting the care and comfort of their patients facing serious illness. When a patient elects the Medicare Hospice Benefit and names an attending physician, that physician remains actively involved in the patient’s plan of care in collaboration with our hospice team.
In accordance with Medicare regulations and ACHC accreditation standards, we provide the following summary of attending physician responsibilities:
Role of the Attending Physician:
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Participation in Care Planning: Collaborate with the hospice interdisciplinary team (IDT) to develop and maintain an individualized plan of care for the patient.
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Coordination of Medical Management: Provide input on the patient’s clinical condition, treatment preferences, and medical history as needed to guide hospice care.
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Order Management: Sign or approve physician orders, certifications, or recertifications, as appropriate, when serving in a primary care role.
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Communication: Maintain open communication with the hospice team regarding significant changes in the patient’s condition, medication adjustments, or treatment decisions.
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Certifying Terminal Illness (if applicable): If the attending physician is also the certifying physician, provide written certification of the patient's terminal diagnosis and prognosis of six months or less if the disease runs its normal course.
Ongoing Collaboration and Communication
We provide this information upon initial referral and review it at least annually for physicians who continue to have active patients on our hospice service. Any updates to these responsibilities or changes to regulatory expectations will be communicated in writing.
Should you have any questions about your role as an attending physician, or would like to request a copy of our clinical protocols or IDT meeting schedule, please contact our Medical Director or Hospice Administrator at 314-582-3500.
We appreciate your partnership in providing compassionate, person-centered care.