1. A Telehospice Care Plan

This plan should be drawn up for every patient to complement the in-person care plan. These points should be noted and then tracked on the plan:

• Frequency of contact (tele- and conventional)
• Frequency of telemonitoring or other telecontact (e.g., instructional videoclips on syringe use)
• Duration of contact per “visit”
• Duration of use of telehealth equipment (per contact and per admission period)
• Dated checkpoints

All data will enable telehospice care to be planned, delivered, and tracked consistently.

2. Reassessment of Patients in Hospice

An in-house policy should indicate 2-3 week intervals when hospice patient should be re-assessed as appropriate for receiving telehospice care. Reason: Hospice patient may be more likely to experience a rapid decline or diminishing of capabilities than other home care patients. Safety of the patients may become an issue as a result. See the suggested Assessment Form, and consider using it as a second or third form for reassessment at intervals to note changes in the patient’s status and capabilities (leading to possible recommendation for transferring the patient to usual hospice services only, not telehospice).

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