Virginia Law

Article 1
Hospice Services

A. Each hospice shall provide a coordinated program of services encompassing the hospice philosophy that:

1. The unit of care consists of the patient, the primary caregiver, and the patient's family;

2. Emphasizes in-home care;

3. A designated interdisciplinary group supervises the patient's care;

4. A patient's symptoms and physical pain will be appropriately assessed and managed;

5. Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;

6. Inpatient care is provided in an atmosphere as home-like as practical;

7. Bereavement services are available to the family after the death of the patient; and

8. Trained volunteers are utilized to perform specific job functions in the hospice service delivery system.

B. Specific services provided according to the plan of care shall include:

1. Nursing services;

2. Counseling services;

3. Medical social services;

4. Physician services;

5. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology;

6. Home attendant services;

7. Short-term inpatient care; and

8. Medical appliances and supplies, including drugs and biologicals, relevant to the patient's terminal illness.

C. There shall be a written transfer agreement with one or more hospitals sufficiently close to the hospice's service area to permit the transfer of patients if medical complications arise. Such agreement shall include, but is not limited to, interagency communication processes and coordination of the patient's plan of care, and shall clearly identify the services to be provided by each entity while the patient is at the hospital.

D. Provisions shall be made to obtain appropriate transportation in cases of emergency.

E. All prescription drugs shall be prescribed and properly dispensed to patients according to the provisions of Chapters 33 (§ 54.1-3300 et seq.) and 34 (§ 54.1-3400 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia and the regulations of the Virginia Board of Pharmacy, except for the prescription drugs authorized by § 54.1-3408 of the Drug Control Act, such as epinephrine for emergency administration, normal saline and heparin flushed for the maintenance of IV lines, and adult immunizations, which may be given by a nurse pursuant to established protocol.

F. The hospice program shall have an active program designed to prevent the occurrence of pressure sores or decubitis ulcers by the program's hospice clients.