Can You Still See Your Regular Doctor While on Hospice?

When someone you love chooses hospice, it can feel like closing a door on more than treatment. The doctor who has known your mother for twenty years and sat with her through the hardest news may seem like part of what is ending. Many people lie awake worrying that they will have to change their entire care team to a bunch of people they don’t know, which sounds exhausting and complicated.

But the good news is that, in many cases, your loved one’s own doctor can stay part of the care. Hospice adds a team of people around the doctor that your loved one knows and trusts. Details can differ, so your hospice team can tell you how it works for your loved one. This page covers who does what, what changes, and what to ask.

Does Hospice Mean You Have to Give Up Your Regular Doctor?

In many cases, no. Your loved one’s own doctor can stay involved if they want to and if the doctor is willing. Some people keep their longtime doctor as a main point of contact. Others hand day to day care to the hospice team and let the longtime doctor step back. Both ways work, and you can talk it over with the hospice team before you choose.

Who Is in Charge of Care on Hospice?

Hospice care comes from a team led by a hospice doctor, with nurses and aides who carry out the plan. The nurse is often the person you will see most, and for day to day problems the nurse is your first call. Your loved one’s own doctor can work with that team and share what they know. Ask how often a doctor will see your loved one and whether any visits happen at home.

What Does the Longtime Doctor Do During Hospice?

They know your loved one’s story and what your loved one has always feared or hoped for. That helps the hospice team give better care. Some doctors stay in touch with the team, and some look over records. How much they do depends on their time, so ask.

What If Your Doctor Cannot Stay Involved?

Some doctors have busy schedules and cannot follow patients closely at home. Others prefer to hand care to a team that does it each day. If that happens, the hospice doctor can take the lead. That choice says nothing about how much your doctor cared. Many want to hear how your loved one is doing, so a note or a call can keep that thread going.

Can You Still See Specialists?

Care aimed at curing the illness stops when hospice starts, so visits to the specialist who treats the illness often end too. Visits for other needs may still make sense. Ask the hospice team before you book one, since the team can tell you what fits with hospice and what does not. They can also tell you what can be done at home so you can skip a hard trip. If a visit is already on the calendar, bring it up at the first hospice visit so the team can help you sort out what to keep.

Who Should You Call If Something Changes?

Call the hospice team first, day or night. They know your loved one’s plan and can act on it. If you call your own doctor’s office or 911 first, you may lose time or end up with care your loved one did not want.

How Do You Tell Your Longtime Doctor About Hospice?

Say it plainly. A short call or a letter works, and you do not need a speech. You might say we are starting hospice and we would like you to stay in touch. Doctors hear this often, and most will want to help. Ask if they will talk with the hospice nurse. If you cannot reach your doctor, ask the hospice team to make the first call.

What If Your Doctor Is Unsure About Hospice?

This happens now and then. Your doctor may worry that stopping treatment is too soon, or may simply need to hear what your loved one wants. You can ask your doctor to talk with the hospice doctor, and the two of them can sort out questions you may not know how to ask. The choice belongs to your loved one.

What If Your Loved One Does Not Have a Doctor Who Knows Them Well?

Many older people see a new doctor at each visit, or have not seen one in a long while. If that is your story, the hospice doctor can take the lead from the start. For some people that is a relief, since it means a doctor will follow your loved one closely.

Will the Pills Change?

Often they do. The hospice team looks at what is still helping and what no longer adds to comfort, and may suggest stopping some. Ask before you stop any pill on your own, and tell your longtime doctor about changes so the whole team is working from the same page.

If you need some help tracking medication and questions for your doctors and nurses, you can download our free “Notes for My Doctors and Nurses” printable workbook here. There is so much to remember during hospice care, and having a place to write it all down can be very helpful!

What If You Feel Sad About Leaving a Doctor You Trust?

Many people do. A doctor like this can feel like a piece of your story. A short note or a visit to say thank you can help close that chapter, and many doctors value hearing that they mattered.

What Should You Ask the Hospice Team?

Good questions include who the main doctor will be and how your loved one’s own doctor can stay in touch with the team. You can also ask who to call at night and which visits still make sense. Write the answers down so you can find them when you are tired. And never hesitate to ask anyone on our team any question at all. We are here to help!