You don't have to be certain to refer
Asking is not signing anything — call us and we'll help determine the right fit and timing, with no obligation.
For healthcare professionals
Referring a patient should be simple.
Referring to Treasure Coast Hospice should be simple. Find eligibility guidance, conversation tools, and a fast, secure way to refer — and know your patient enters trusted, local, nonprofit care serving the Treasure Coast since 1982.
Why refer early
The earlier the referral, the more we can do for your patient.
The most common regret we hear isn't referring too soon — it's waiting too long, when a patient has only days left and little time remains to ease symptoms or support the family.
Referring early gives our team time to control symptoms, support the family, and make the transition to comfort care feel steady. And you don't hand your patient off — you stay involved in the plan of care.
You stay part of the plan of care
Referring isn't stepping away — you stay involved and informed throughout. Hospice is a partnership, never a handoff.
Local, nonprofit, since 1982
A community-based nonprofit serving Martin, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee counties for more than four decades.
Eligibility at a glance
Signs it may be time to consider a hospice referral.
Hospice generally fits when a patient has a life-limiting illness and would benefit from comfort-focused care over continued curative treatment. The signals below are prompts to call — not a formal eligibility determination.
For disease-specific and Medicare hospice criteria, see our eligibility guidelines. When you're unsure, call our referral line and we'll help you decide whether the timing is right.
Declining function or repeated setbacks
Growing dependence, unexplained weight loss, or frequent hospitalizations can signal an illness that is advancing.
Symptoms that are hard to manage
Pain, breathlessness, agitation, or nausea that stay difficult to control despite ongoing treatment.
A shift toward comfort as the goal
The patient or family is focused on quality of life rather than further curative treatment.
The "surprise question"
You wouldn't be surprised if this patient died within the year — one of the most reliable prompts to refer.
Make the referral
When you're ready, we're ready.
The fastest way to help your patient is to reach us directly. Submit a referral online or call the referral line, and we'll confirm eligibility, coordinate a timely admission, and keep you in the loop. For urgent symptoms, our line is staffed around the clock, every day of the year.
Clinician resources
Tools and guidance for referring providers.
Everything you need to make a confident, timely referral and support your patient through the transition — from eligibility criteria to conversation guides and support for your own team. Each resource opens practical guidance written for busy clinicians.
Refer a patient
Start a secure referral; we respond quickly to coordinate a smooth admission and keep you informed.
Why refer early
How earlier referrals lead to better symptom control, steadier transitions, and more support for families.
Hospice eligibility guidelines
Disease-specific criteria and prognostic indicators for hospice qualification under Medicare.
Palliative care guidelines
When palliative care fits alongside curative treatment, and how it differs from hospice.
What is my role?
How referring providers stay involved in the plan of care after a hospice referral.
Talking to patients about hospice
Language and framing to introduce hospice in difficult end-of-life conversations.
Overcoming compassion fatigue
Support for clinicians navigating burnout and the emotional weight of end-of-life care.
Common questions
What referring providers ask us most.
If a practical question is holding you back from referring, start here. These are the concerns clinicians raise most often, answered plainly so you can move forward with confidence.
Will I lose touch with my patient after I refer?
How do I know it's the right time to refer?
What happens after I submit a referral?
Make the referral
When you're ready, we're ready.
The fastest way to help your patient is to reach us directly. Submit a referral online or call the referral line, and we'll coordinate a timely admission and keep you in the loop. We're here whenever you need us.