How To Locate A Hospice

The following sources can be helpful in locating and / or providing referrals to a hospice organization.

• Your doctor
• • Your doctor or his or her patients may have first hand experience with local hospice organizations.
  • Ask:
  • • Which hospice would they recommend?
    • Why?
• Local hospitals
• • Some hospitals sponsor or contract with their own hospice programs, or refer patients to local hospice agencies.
  • Contact the hospital's discharge planner / social work department for suggestions.
• Local disease specific non-profit organizations
• • It is likely that your local disease specific non-profit organization can refer you to hospice care.
  • If your organization doesn't have the knowledge, or you are not comfortable with their recommendation, contact other local disease specific non-profit organizations in your area. As a general matter, they will be very willing to share information.
• Support groups
• • A local support group or self help group for patients or caregivers is another good source for first hand experience / information about hospice service.
  • The people who know about local hospices may also have had experience with them and can provide tips.
• National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO)
• • According to their mission statement, this non-profit organization is dedicated to advancing the philosophy and practice of hospice care to meet the unique needs of patients and their families, and to expand access to hospice care for all.
  • NHPCO offers a free General Information Packet, and also provides information on local hospice and palliative care (pain management) programs across the country.
  • NHPCO also operates a toll-free helpline at 800. 658.8898, or visit their website: http://www.nhpco.org
  • In case you need it, NHPCO's address is: 1700 Diagonal Road, Suite 625, Alexandria, VA 22314
• Joint Commission On Healt h Care Quality Research (JCAHO)
• • JCAHO is a not-for-profit organization that reviews quality of service, and provides voluntary accreditation for hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, and other medical facilities.
  • The JCAHO website allows you to locate local hospice organizations and compare their ratings which range from accreditation with commendation to accreditation with deficiencies. See www.jcaho.com
• Hospice Education Institution
• • The non-profit institute's mission is to serve members of the public and health care professionals with information about caring for the dying and the bereaved.
  • Hospice Education Institute provides a service called Hospice Link, which maintains an up-to-date database for all hospice and palliative care programs in the United States. Call 800.331.1620 (in Maine: 207.255.8800) or visit their website at www.hospiceworld.org
• State hospice organizations
• • For a list of state hospice organizations, click here.

Before choosing a hospice, read How To Choose A Hospice

Area non-profit membership organizations function as educational and legislative resources to their local participating hospice agencies. In addition to providing patients with referrals, these organizations can provide information about licensing and certification of hospice facilities for your state. The following chart includes the contact information for your state hospice organization.