Referrals
Anyone can make a referral to Mercy Hospice and Palliative Care. We admit patients to the Hospice program based on need and regardless of their ability to pay, unlike many for-profit hospices in the area. Charitable donations from memorials and private donations allow us to provide Hospice services to those patients without a payment source. A Social Worker will help the family fill out an application for financial assistance. Based on the current Federal Poverty Guidelines, we will work with the family to determine a reasonable charge for our services without placing an undue financial hardship upon the patient and family.
The Referral Process:
When a call is placed for a referral, the Referral Coordinator will ask some basic questions to determine if the patient meets the medical criteria for admission, the stage and type of the chronic or terminal illness, and the type of insurance the patient has, (so that the most accurate information possible can be relayed to the family during the Presentation process).
The Referral Coordinator will then set up a time when a staff member will visit the family to present them with information about all of our services. If the patient (Or if the patient is unable to speak for him or herself, the primary caregiver or Healthcare Power of Attorney.) then chooses to join either the Palliative Care or Hospice Program (two separate programs), a nurse will come out to do a physical assessment of the patient and assist with any medical questions or concerns the family may have.
One of our Social Workers will also visit within a day or two to speak with the patient and primary caregiver to explain their role in the patient’s care and offer any assistance the family may need. Mercy Hospice and Palliative Care, unlike other area “for-profit” agencies, never turns away a patient who is without insurance or who is unable to pay. If the patient is without insurance, an Economic Assessment is done. An Economic Assessment consists of some basic financial questions that are asked by the Social Worker to determine a fair fee schedule that will not create undue financial hardship for the patient or family. Determination for eligibility for financial assistance is based upon current Federal Poverty Guidelines. The Executive Director will make a determination and the family will be contacted to confirm what the patient’s financial responsibility, if any, will be.
Request a Free Presentation On-line Now
Family Members:
Family, friends, or even the patient can make a referral. Admission to hospice is based on need and the recommendation of the patient’s physician.
Nursing Home Facilities:
Mercy Hospice and Palliative Care is affiliated with the following Skilled Nursing Facilities: Grand Strand Healthcare, Kingston Nursing Center, Loris Extended Care, Myrtle Beach Manor, National Healthcare, and Conway Manor.
Hospitals:
Mercy Hospice and Palliative Care has contracts with the following hospitals. If a patient is a participant in the Medicare or Medicaid Hospice Benefit, they must be in one of these contracted facilities: Conway Medical Center, Loris Healthcare System, Grand Strand Regional Hospital Medical Center, Marion Regional Healthcare System, Georgetown Hospital, or Waccamaw Community Hospital.
Assisted Living Facilities:
Services can be provided to patients who live in an Assisted Living Facility.
Healthcare Professionals:
If you are the patient’s primary attending physician and the patient agrees to be referred to us, please call the Referral Coordinator to set up a time for a presentation of our services to the patient and caregiver. We will also need you, as the primary attending physician, to fax us the orders, demographic information, billing information, History and Physical, and your most recent notes on the patient.