How can a hospital discharge someone who can not live without hospital care?!
Question: How can a hospital discharge someone who can not live without hospital care.?
My father has lung cancer. And before anyone says he deserved it for smoking, he doesnt smoke and no one does in the household. He requires all things from machines; breath, eating, liquid, etc. The hospital has hospice, which we are attempting to get him into. But, we just received a call from the hospital saying they want to discharge him because they can not do anything else for him. He doesnt have even a month to live (by the way he looks and his nearly comatose state).
Wouldnt that be deserving of hospice.? The hospital says they do not want to put him in hospice because he may live longer than 3 days, yet hospice policy in that particular hospital is someone who will most likely pass away within six months.
They are wanting to discharge him back home, but say that he will have to have 24 hour monitoring and asisstance. They would send out a nurse once a day at the house. Anyone work in a hospital know of a situation like this.? Or is this different.? Health Question & Answer
Wouldnt that be deserving of hospice.? The hospital says they do not want to put him in hospice because he may live longer than 3 days, yet hospice policy in that particular hospital is someone who will most likely pass away within six months.
They are wanting to discharge him back home, but say that he will have to have 24 hour monitoring and asisstance. They would send out a nurse once a day at the house. Anyone work in a hospital know of a situation like this.? Or is this different.? Health Question & Answer
Answers:
Well, you need to contact the social services department at the hospital. Fact is, they cannot discharge him until something is arranged for his care, whether it is at home, or a nursing home or hospice, it is their responsibility to make sure they are discharging him to an environment that can provide for his needs. That is thier job, not yours.Health Question & Answer
Yes, your dad is terminal, so he does require care. But the social worker at the hospital should have set up hospice for you. Please contact the social worker or hospice as soon as possible. Ususally hospitals will d/c to home hospice or nursing home, so hospice is your best bet...good luckHealth Question & Answer