Heart to Heart
An End Stage Cardiac Disease Program that can help.
LightBridge Hospice & Palliative Care has created the Heart to Heart Program for end stage cardiac patients and their loved ones. Our program is designed to meet the special needs of those living with end stage cardiac disease. We understand it is common for patients to feel a loss of control as their disease progresses. Together we create a customized plan of care for each patient based on their goals and priorities.
Our expertise in pain and symptom management promotes comfort and quality of life. Our program is designed to help reduce emergency room visits and hospital readmissions. Our interdisciplinary team provides education to the patient and their caregivers on cardiac disease that expands their understanding and what to expect as their disease progresses and promotes their ability to have control. Heart to Heart trained staff and volunteers provide support for caregivers that are doing their best to assist with managing their loved one’s illness.
The Heart to Heart Hospice Program also includes
- All approved cardiac medications including a cardiac specific emergency kit
- Nurses specially trained in the Heart to Heart Program available 24/7
- All supplies and durable medical equipment include O2 delivered to the patients home
Understanding the Guidelines for Eligibility:
In order to qualify for hospice a patient is expected to live six months or less if the disease follows its normal course. For CHF patients, however, there is often confusion and a lack of understanding about when to refer a patient to hospice. That uncertainty stems from not knowing what symptoms a patient should be exhibiting to be considered eligible. Some common symptoms that may qualify a patient for hospice include:
- Angina at rest despite maximum medical therapy or
- NYHA Class IV CHF
- Supporting evidence
Treatment- resistant symptomatic dysrhythmias
History of unexplained or cardiac embolism
CVA secondary to cardiac embolism - History of cardiac arrest or resuscitation
- O2 saturation < 88%
- Angina or chest pain
- Symptomatic arrhythmias
- Frequent Hospitalizations
- Unexplained weight gain or loss
- Comorbidities such as lung disease, dementia or kidney disease
- Ejection fraction <25%
