Hospice and Palliative Care Program - Home Care Network Jefferson Health System

patients child

My father went to the ER at Lankenau Hospital (he was 94 yrs old), and the ER doctor recommended inpatient hospice. Sadly, this hospice service was uncoordinated and very uncompassionate. First I received a call in the middle of the night 'to introduce' me to the hospice (imagine that). Then a call in the morning from a nurse, who didn't come to the hospital, finally on the 3rd day, a social worker came to complete consents and 5 hours later, a nurse determined that may father qualified for inpatient hospice coverage (ie, terminal and likely to die soon). The next day, a different nurse called and said "your father has to leave the hospital, he does not qualify" - no link to social work, no review of options, and no MD involvement. She went as far as to accuse me of trying to commit Medicare fraud. All this was very upsetting as my father was declining rapidly and his home situation was not suitable as an option. I did get him moved to another hospice as inpatient and he died 4 days later. Fortunately receiving high quality care from a coordinated team who communicated with me very well. I hope something will change at this network, as I assume that what happened to me will happen to others as well.