Getting hospice started can often take just 24 to 48 hours from your first call, and in urgent situations, sometimes the same day. The only formal requirement is a physician’s certification of a terminal illness, and the hospice requests and manages that step for you. At Seasons Hospice in Tulsa, Oklahoma, equipment, medications, and supplies typically arrive within a day of the admission visit, so support surrounds your family almost immediately.
You do not need a referral in hand or anything figured out before calling; a family member can call directly and we coordinate from there.
What happens step by step after I call?
First, we answer your questions and learn your loved one’s situation. Second, we verify coverage for free, whether Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, or none. Third, we contact the physician for the certification. Fourth, we schedule an admission visit at your home or facility, where the nurse completes an assessment and builds the plan of care. Equipment and comfort medications follow within about a day.
Can hospice start on a weekend or holiday?
Yes. Hospices admit patients seven days a week when the need is urgent, and once care begins, a nurse is on call around the clock, every day of the year.
Can hospice start straight from the hospital?
Yes, and it happens often. Hospital discharge planners coordinate with the hospice so that the transition home, or to a facility, happens without a gap. Tell the discharge planner which hospice you choose; the choice always belongs to the patient and family, not the hospital.
What should we have ready for the first visit?
A list of current medications, insurance cards if any, and your questions. The hospice brings everything else, including the paperwork.
Getting hospice started: timeline at a glance
Care can often begin within 24 to 48 hours of your first call, and in urgent situations sometimes the same day. You do not need a referral in hand before calling. The hospice answers your questions, verifies coverage for free, contacts the physician for the certification, and schedules an admission visit where the nurse completes an assessment and builds the plan of care. Equipment and comfort medications typically arrive within about a day, and hospices admit patients seven days a week when the need is urgent.
| Step | What happens | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| First call | Questions answered and your loved one’s situation learned | No referral needed |
| Coverage check | Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, or none, verified for free | Handled by the hospice |
| Physician certification | The hospice contacts the physician | Handled by the hospice |
| Admission visit | The nurse completes an assessment and builds the plan of care | Often within 24 to 48 hours, sometimes the same day |
| Equipment and comfort medications | Delivered to the home | Typically within about a day |
Care within days for Tulsa, OK families
When a family is ready, waiting is the last thing they need. Since 1998, Seasons Hospice has built its admissions process around speed and gentleness in equal measure. Care can begin as soon as tomorrow. Contact us today or call (918) 745-0222.