An Explicit Live Discharge Protocol for Hospice-Initiated Live Discharges

Hospice-initiated discharges, or those not requested by patients or caregivers, are distinct from voluntary disenrollment from hospice because they often occur without adequate preparation. Hospice patients who have stabilized and been deemed no longer terminal can disrupt continuity of care, leaving patients and their caregivers unprepared for the complex medical, emotional, and logistical needs posthospice. Currently, no standardized guidelines exist to support hospice clinicians in planning for and conducting these live discharges.