For Physicians

• A terminal illness with a prognosis of 6 months or less, if the illness runs its normal course. 
• No plans for further aggressive or curative diagnostics or therapies. 
• Patient is agreeable to hospice care. 

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization supports the following guidelines to aid in determining prognosis in non-cancer disease.

These worksheets are just a starting point in decision making in non-cancer disease. At the time of admission, clinical judgment must always be applied in each individual case to supplement these guidelines.

• General Guidelines
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease 
• Heart Disease 
• HIV 
• Liver Disease 
• Pulmonary Disease 
• Renal Disease 
• Stroke and/or Coma 
• All Other Diagnoses

Resources