Hospice On-Call

Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 A.M. until 5 P.M.
634-1100
If there is no answer, please call 701-7536

Your initial call after business hours will be answered by staff of the Rural Metro Answering Service who is trained to be sensitive to the needs of Hospice patients and their families. The service will contact the Hospice Nurse on-call, who will promptly return your call. If you do not hear back within 15 minutes, please call again.

The nurse on-call will listen to your concerns and needs and will provide phone counseling, recommendations, direction and support. When a visit by a Hospice On-Call Nurse is necessary, one will be dispatched. Each situation is unique and managed based on patient and family needs.

The after hours staff visits patients throughout Onondaga, southern Oswego, and western Madison Counties. The phone nurse will give an estimated time of arrival of the visit nurse. When a delay in arrival time emerges, updates will be communicated.

When to call Hospice after hours:

For patient and family concerns or questions
When the patient falls or is injured
Changes in the patient’s condition
At the time of death

What to expect during evening and weekend hours:

Contacting your physician
Call Hospice first. The nurse will help answer questions over the phone and will contact the physician when necessary.

Equipment
Call Hospice to discuss problems or concerns related to current or needed equipment.

Home Health Aides and Contract Staff
Scheduling: Weekend and evening schedules are determined and communicated with patients in advance of the scheduled shift. Call Hospice for concerns or problems.

If more help is needed: Increases in staffing during on-call hours are determined by assessment of patient and family need per phone consultation and home visit. Families are expected to provide a backup caregiving plan until Hospice assesses and arranges appropriate services.

Hospitalization
Call Hospice first. The staff will assess your situation, advise you of alternatives, make a visit when necessary, and contact your physician. When hospitalization is needed, Hospice staff will coordinate the arrangements.

Medications
Refills: Please anticipate refilling your prescriptions during the week. Your primary nurse can assist with this during the weekly visit.

New Medications: After hours, medication is available only for emergencies and coordinated by a Hospice Nurse with your physician.

Pain and Symptom Management
Call Hospice. Pain management and symptom relief are our priorities and are available around the clock.

Supplies
Anticipate supply needs during the week with your Hospice Nurse. Routine supplies are not available from Hospice during on-call hours.

Other Emergencies
Weather emergency, natural disaster, phones not working, phone line problem: Call 634-1100, if no answer, call 701-7536.

If all phone lines are down, stay calm. Hospice staff will contact patients and families to insure their comfort and safety.

Patient Falls and Injuries
Call Hospice immediately. For the comfort and safety of the patient and caregiver, do not move the patient without direction from Hospice.

Time of Death
Call Hospice immediately. Contact additional family or friends to be with caregivers until the Hospice Nurse arrives. The nurse will call the attending physician and the funeral home.