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What’s in a name?

A formal medical diagnosis is not required to refer a dying patient to Hospice of the Northwest.

If a person is dying, even if you don’t know exactly why, they are hospice eligible if comfort care is their goal. Being certain about the diagnosis (or even the prognosis) is not necessary for referral. When a patient prefers no work-up, the work-up has been unrevealing, or the condition is simply natural decline with aging, we can consult and decide what diagnosis will meet Medicare requirements. This approach helps prioritize the patient’s quality of life and allows us to address their needs promptly.

For more information, call our providers at 360-814-5550 or email:

All Palliative Pearls and other resources can be found by clicking Providers at the top of this page.

If you would like to receive monthly Palliative Pearls via email, please email Pam Putney at pputney@hospicenw.org.

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