Abstract
This article presents an approach to staff education designed to enhance clinical decision making related to hospice eligibility criteria and admission to the hospice program. Designed as a performance improvement project that would support current admission practices, this article describes specific tools developed to support the initial assessment of hospice eligibility, priority care for pain and symptom control, and communication at the end of life. This article also explores techniques used to assist clinicians in understanding the Medicare hospice benefit, defining the admission consent process, and improving adherence to various regulatory considerations.