Criteria for Hospice Admission | Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Has the disease rapidly progressed over the past few months?

Is the patient severely disabled?

Do the patient and family want mechanical ventilation, nutritional support or other interventions?

Do the patient and family want cardio-pulmonary resuscitation to be performed in the event of an arrest?

Measured vital capacity

Predicted vital capacity for age and gender

• signfiicant dyspnea at rest?

• the need for supplemental oxygen at rest?

• inadequate oral intake with dehydration and/or hypovolemia?

• continued weight loss despite tube feedings?

• recurrent aspiration pneumonia?

• recurrent fever following appropriate antibiotic therapy?

• pyelonephritis?

• sepsis?

• severe decubital ulcer disease?