We can provide support to identify hospice eligibility as well as helpful clinical guidelines

Admission Criteria

State and Federal regulations require that the following two criteria be met for a patient to be eligible for Hospice of New Mexico’s services:

  1. Two physicians must certify the patient’s life expectancy is 6 months or less, if the illness runs its normal course.
  2. Patient has chosen care that focuses on symptom management rather than curative treatment.

Individuals eligible for Hospice of New Mexico’s services may experience some or all of the following:

  • Frequent hospitalizations
  • Progressive weight loss
  • Deteriorating mental abilities
  • Recurrent infections
  • Decreased ability to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
  • Hospice of New Mexico patients do not have to be homebound

Clinical Reference Scales

The following reference scales are used by healthcare professionals in various settings. These scales are incorporated in the Diagnosis Guidelines and are often documented by our clinical staff in the care of our patients.

New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification

Palliative Performance Scale (PPS)

Functional Assessment Staging Tool (FAST)

Body Mass Index (BMI) Reference Chart

FLACC Pain Scale

Pain Assessment Scales

Refer a Patient